«* 


HISTORY 


Of 


ROME: 

FOR  THE   USE   OF   SCHOOLS 

BT 

F.   W.   RICORD. 


PART  L-THE  KtXUS  OF  ROMS. 
PART  II      THE  REPUBLIC  OP  BOMB. 
PART  IU.-THE  EMPIRE  OP  Rf> 


HEW  YORK: 

3  &  OOn51  <k  5 


-p 

^v 


A.  B.  BARNES  *  CO, 

In  ti.e  CUrk'i  Offle*  of  th*  DUtrin  Court  at  the  United  But«  few  U* 
Dtouirt  of  Mew  York. 


H  g  e  m  t  n  t . 
i ;  i 

MM 

I-Romulo. 

II      Nam*PoaipiUitt...  .    26 

111     Tullu*  H«Ulh». . .  .     87 

Anew  Hardu*  46 

V.-TkrqolnJu.  Prims.  .66 

Scrviu.  Tulliu-  .     67 

Tarquinittt  8aperbu>  .     79 


PABT   II. 

I.-Tb«  W»r  with  Ptowemui. . 
I!  —The  War  with  the  Utinn. . . 
1 1 1  -The  P^tridMM  MM!  the 

-T»ir  Tribune  of  the  People. 

-The  Decemrira 

-DtatnictioQ  of  Rome  bj  the  Ctaols 
v  II .—  Foreign  Oooqaaft* 
V 1 1 1  -The  Jagarthlne  War . . 
IX.-Marii«and8)lU. 
X.— Clrll  Wan  and  Coospiradet. 
Julio*  OMT.  . 


8  ARRANGEMENT. 

PART   III. 

PACK 

I. — The  Beginning  of  the  Empire 15 

II.—  Caligula  and  Claudius 47 

III.— The  Last  of  the  Caesars 75 

IV.— Transient  Rulers 10! 

V. — Vespasian  and  his  Sons 123 

VI. — Extension  of  the  Empire 147 

VII.— The  Antonines ' 173 

VIII.— The  Prsetorian  Guards 197 

IX.— The  Decline  of  the  Empire 241 

X. — Rome  Abandoned 273 


PREFACE. 


IN  the  volume  now  offered  to  the  public,  it  is  the 
intention  of  the  author  to  connect  the  most  important 
events  of  Roman  history,  from  the  foundation  of 
Rome  to  the  death  of  Constantino.  That  these  events 
may  be  more  easily  fixed  upon  the  memory,  it  is 
thought  advisable  to  separate  the  narrative  into  three 
parts. 

PART  I.  is  confined  to  that  period  known  as  the 
monarchy,  which,  although  very  properly  regarded  as 
wholly  fabulous,  is  the  only  foundation  that  can  be 
obtained  for  a  history  upon  whose  pages  almost  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth  appear. 

PART  II.  gives  briefly  the  narratives  which  make 
up  the  history  of  the  Republic  of  Rome,  and  which 
are  rendered  none  the  less  instructive  to  the  general 
reader,  and  certainly  none  the  less  essential  to  the 
student,  by  reason  of  the  abundant  acuteness  evinced 
by  Beaufort  and  Niebuhr  in  disproving  the  testimo- 
nies of  Livy  and  Dionysius.  Indeed,  a  very  good 
knowledge  of  these  narratives  is  necessary,  in  order 
that  either  pleasure  or  profit  may  be  derived  from 
the  writings  of  these  modern  historians. 

PART   III.   begins   with   the    circumstances    that 


10  PR] 

attended  the  rl.-vation  of  Octavius  and   oontaii 
most  interesting  portions  of  the  history  of  the  empire 
to   the   death    of  Constantino,  during    whose  reign 

ceased  to  be  the  capital  of  the  world. 
There  are  many  persons  who,  through  ignorance 
of  the  prominent  facts  of  hi>t<>ry,  are   deprived   of 
much  of  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  evi-ry-day 
wants  of  such  individuals   have   not 
here  been  forgotten,  while,  with  a  r  the 

volume   d<  :<»r  schools,  the  author 

stantly   eoiiMiltrd   ti 

who  irad  it  will  fail  to  go  to  the  sources  whenc- 

nd  will  bt-  ind 

•  1,  ii(»t   only    to    ii  ,     the 

subjt ••••  i,  but  to  ]  .  ly  of 

thi>  intcn-iiu-  to  the  dissolution  of  the  em- 

NKWAM,  N.  J.,  October,  1858. 


FROM  752  TO  714   B.C. 


Home  and  the  surrounding  Country — Ancient  Inhabit- 
ants— Cities  of  the  ancient  Latins — Birth  of  Romulus  and 
Remus— Rhea  Silvia— Founding  of  Rome— Capture  of  the 
S;il,i  no  Women— War  with  the  Sabines— Tatius— Ambition 
of  Romulus — His  death. 


MAP   OF   ROME. 


I. 

ROMULUS. 


THERE  is  such  an  air  of  truthfulness  about  the 
legends,  or  the  lays,  of  Rome  that,  notwithstand- 
ing the  amount  of  learning  brought  into  requi- 
sition to  extinguish  them,  they  will  ever  hold  a 
place  in  the  history  of  this  remarkable  nation. 
Besides,  though  they  were  utterly  unworthy 
of  credibility,  they  are  so  interwoven  with  the 
tture  of  all  ages,  that  an  acquaintance  with 
them  is  indispensable  to  both  the  reader  and 
the  student. 

Italy,  the  country  of  which  Rome  is  regarded 
as  the  centre,  lias  always  been  celebrated  as  the 
most  fertile  and  desirable  land  of  the  world. 
Its  delicious  fruits,  its  corn,  wine,  soil,  and  cat- 
tle form  not  its  only  wealth  ;  metals  of  every 
kind,  valuable  stone,  and  timber  here,  too, 
abound.  In  short,  it  is  a  land  affording  every 
thing  that  can  admini-U«r  comfort  or  pleasure  ; 
possessing  a  climate  that  has  ever  been  unri- 


14:  K  I  N  G  8     O  F     K  O  M  K  . 


Ancient  Inhabitants— Alba. 


vailed,  and  presenting  a  surface  unsurpassed  for 
its  beautiful  diversity  of  bays,  promontories, 
rivers,  mountains,  hills,  and  plains. 

This  country  was  originally  occupied  by  nu- 
merous, and  independent,  nations,  among  whom 
the  most  considerable  were  the  Aborigines,  a 
name  always  given  to  those  inhabitants  of  a 
country  whose  derivation  is  uncertain.  Of 
these  Aborigines  there  were  various  tribes  ;  as 
fur  example,  the  Latins,  the  Umbrians,  the 
Rutuli,  etc.,  who  enjoyed  in  their  separate 
ciiie-  the  !•!•  of  liberty  ami  equality. 

dee   tli«-M'.  there  were  also  the  Ktnir 
who  had  sprung  from  col-  •  out  of  Lydiu 

and  Tliessaly.  The  Sahines,  who,  iiually,  be- 
came Mended  with  the  Romans,  were  a  tribe  of 
the  I'lnbrians,  which  ha«l  :>arated  from 

their   fellows    by   the    Ktrurians,  :  .vhoso 

victorious  anus  they  were  oMi^c'l  to  fly. 

Long  before  Rome  was  built,  the  Latins  had 
founded  in-ar  its  site  a  large  and  flourishing 
to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Alba, 
and  which,  f»>r  a  period  of  tour  liundr. 
continued  to  be  ruled  by  a  race  of  kin- 
tor   their  warlike   exploits,  and   their  love   of 
power.     This  city,  and  Lavinium   which  was 
built  by  Eneas,  soon  after  the  destruction  of 
Troy,  are  called  //  -f  the  ancient  Latins. 


QLU8.  15 


Rhea  Silvia— Koniulus  and  Remus. 


According    to    the    legend,   Remains,   the 

founder  ut'  Rome,  and  his  twin-brother  liemns, 
were  descendants  of  Procas,  one  of  the  kings 
of  this  ancient  city.  Their  mother  was  Rhea 
Silvia,  a  priestess  in  the  temple  of  the  godde-s 
.  herself,  was  the  daughter  of  the 
rightful  claimant  to  the  throne  ;  and  her  uncle, 
•who  had  usurped  it.  fearing  that  these  children 
might  some  day  dispossess  him,  ordered  them 
to  be  thrown  into  the  river  Tiber.  They  were 
carried  upon  tin  to  the  foot  of  the 

hill  called  the  Palatine,  where  a  wolf  is  said  to 
nourished  them  with  her  milk,  until  they 
red  by  a  shepherd  who  t....k  them 
into  bis  hut,  and,  by  the  aid  of  h 
them  from  death. 

Growing  up  to  manhood,  they  exhibited  a 

and    mental   superiority    th.r 
the  admiration  and  o1  iiepherds 

hum  they  were  Mirr«»undrd.      Learning,  in 
.  the   history  of  their   parentage,  ihe;. 
lected  a  band  of  followers,  and  proceeding  to 
Alba,  succeeded,  by  means  of  a  well-laid  plot, 
in   putting  to  death  tin;  usurper  of  the  throne, 
and  placing  upon  it  their  injured  grandfather. 
'I   ambitious  they   were  not  con- 
tented  to   remain   at   Alba,  and,   n-olving  to 
build  a  city  for  themselves,  assembled  about 


16  K  :  >9 


Building  ol  '.. 


fifteen  hundred  fullowere,  and  proceeded  to  the 
banks  of  the  Tiber. 

J  hiving  selected  a  spot  suitable  for  their  de- 
sign, some  difficulty  arose  in  regard  to  naming 
and  regulating  the  future  city.  A  quarrel, 
finally,  took  place.  From  angry  words  they 
came  to  blows.  A  tumult  ensued,  their  respec- 
t'riends  taking  an  active  part.  K<>mu- 
lus,  dealing  his  brother  an  unfortunate  blow, 
stretched  him  dead  UJM>M  the  ground. 

The    building    of   the    city    pr«  •  with 

great  activity,  and   n  K<>mulus  and 

his  followers  soon  spread  throughout  the  sur- 
rounding country.     The  c«>l"iiy   was,  how. 

-mall;  and  to  in.-:  BMfft  rapidly, 

Etonudofl  opened  A  sanctoi    . 

in   the  c'  ;dl   who  might  c:  avail 

tlu-niM'hvs    ot'    it.     Thither    iinm-  llfd 

fn»m  the  lu-igliboring  states  crowds  of  people: 
08,  good  and   bad.     That  this 
increasing   strength    might    1»  :vgu- 

lated,  the  sagaci"iis  leadi-r  ii.  an  <  r<K-r 

.  iiom   he   called 

-tvled  l-'athers.  and  tliei:-  lantfl  Ta- 

triei;. 

Unfortuiuit.      .  "f    the    colonists 

vided  with  wives,  and  as  there  were 

scarcely    any    females    in    the    city.    K-multis 


K  •  •  M  I    LU8. 


Capture  of  the  Babine  Women. 


•  I  that  h!  ta  miirht  forsake  him.  To 

guard  airain-t  th: -.  >  the 

adjoining  states  to  solicit  permission  for  his 

!o  to  marry  among  them.    But  this  being 

.ed  to  accomplish  his  d< 
by  str 

Dissembling  as  well  as  possible  the  indignity 
-  him  and  his  people,  he  made  irivat. 
arutiniis    fur    the    cuk-bratiun    of    solemn 
hoimr  <>f  Xeptune.     Tlie  coK-bratinn 
of  th'  •    l-o    jTorlaimed 

thrMiiirhout  all  the  adjoh;  t6S,  and  nuth- 

.vas  omitted  that  mi^ht  attract  attenti-n  to 
them.     When  the  day  arrived,  crowds  of 
]>le   from  tin-  >urr.-undii!L''  country,  ponivd  into 
.Koine.     The  Cii'iiincnsia!.  .  u>tnminian<. 

and  especial!  -miltitudes  of  the  Sabines 

!i  their  wi\»  s  and  children.     As  soon 
as  th-  ben   the  irames  were 

to  be  held  was  filled,  Jiomulns,  seated  upon  a 
gorgeous  tribunal,  irave  the  .-i^nal,  and  in  an 
instant  the  Ionian  youth,  who  had  well  ar- 
ranged them-  :-»r  the  occa-ion,  rushe«l, 
•d  in  hand,  into  the  midst  of  the  unsuspect- 
ing multitude.  (  hvrtiiniini;  the  unarmed  men 
wlm  opposed  them,  they  seized  upon  the  terri- 
fied females,  and  bore  them  off  to  their  respec- 
tive homes. 


18  KINGS   OF  ROME. 


War  with  the  Sabiues— Tatius. 


Deep  hatred  immediately  took  possession  of 
the  people  thus  grossly  injured  by  the  Romans. 
Wars  began,  and  nation  after  nation  marched 
against  Rome ;  but  they  were  invariably  de- 
feated and  forced  to  retreat.  The  Sabines  were 
not,  however,  overcome  as  easily  as  the  others, 
and,  after  several  bloody  battles,  they  were 
pacified  only  by  the  interference  of  their  cap- 
tured women,  who  rushed  into  the  midst  of  the 
contending  armies  and  begged  them  to  lay 
a>ide  their  arms.  A  treaty  was  made  betv 
them  and  the  Romans,  by  which  Romulus,  and 
Tatius,  king  of  the  Sal>i  me  kings  of 

Rome   with   equal   powers   and   equal   h«- 
They  continued  to  reign  together  in  the  m«-t 
friendly    manner   for   nearly  v.hen 

Tatius  was  slain  by  a  party  of  Laurentians  who 
had  l»e-en  oil'ended  by  some  of  his  acts. 

The  nations  bordering  upon  Koine  continued 
to  be  troublesome  for  a  long  time;  and  it  re- 
quired all  the  skill  and  strength  of  Romulus  to 
subdue  them.  In  this  he,  finally,  succeeded ; 
and, then,  finding  himself  comparatively  unoc- 
eupied,  he  undertook,  in  various  ways,  to  in- 
M  his  authority  at  home.  Three  hundred 
young  men.  called  Celeres,  were  appointed  to 
wait  upon  him  ;  and  the  Senate,  with  whom  lie 
had  been  wont  to  advise  and  co-operate,  were 


ROMULUS.  19 


Ambition  of  Eouiulus— His  Death. 


stripped  of  their  power,  and  forced  to  meet  in 
the  Council-house  only  to  listen  to  his  despotic 
orders. 

These  and  many  other  things  were  submitted 
t<>  with  becoming  patience,  but  the  pride  and 
ambition  of  Romulus  were  daily  becoming 
more  intolerable.  Finally,  after  the  subjuga- 
tion of  the  Yeientiuns,  lie  divided,  without  the 
consent  or  approbation  of  the  Senate,  the  con- 
quered lands  among  his  soldiers,  and  sent  home 
the  i  .  The  indignation  of  the  Senate 

was  beyond  control,  and,  soon  afterwards,  Rom- 
ulus disappeared,  and  no  trace  of  him  could 
-  be  found. 

This  event  occurred  a;  -n  of  thirty- 

seven  years;  and  his  extraordinary  disappear- 
ance was  accounted  for  in  a  variety  of  \ 
The  Senators  declared  that  he  had  been  carried 
up  to  heaven  on  a  flash  of  lightning,  to  take 
his   place   among   the  gods,   but   they    were 
boldly  accused  by  the  people  of  having  mur- 
dered him;  and  it  was  only  by  a  well-do  •- 
story  that  they  were  able  to  save  themselves 
from  the  fury  of  the  people,  by  whom  Romulus 
I  much  beloved. 


NUMA  POMPILIUS. 

FROM  7J  i 


Appearance  of  Rome  at  the  death  of  Romulus — Interreg- 
num— Choice  of  a  King — Wisdom  displ.-iycil  by  Numa — 
'JViiiplr  «-f  Janus— Religion  of  the  Romans— The  ^ 

]»i\i>i..n  «.f  tli.-  Lands— Distril.ution  of  tl.  -  -Rcf- 

oniKiii  MI  of  the  Calendar-  N'uma— Sorrow  of  tho 

people 


IK    TLMl'LE   OF  JANT8. 


1 1. 

NUMA   I'OMI'IUUS. 


nd,  had, 

under  the  administration  of  Romulus,  risen  to 
an  a>i«>ni>h;n:;-  height  of  p,,\ver.     At  his  death, 
<dl  within  its  walls  was  activity  and  life.     Tein- 
and    palaces  l.^ki-d   proudly  from  its  hill- 
tops.    Through  its  in;  9  poured  busy 
it  the  to<                 Anrknu-n  soundrd 
only  for  tin-  purpose  of  addinir  further  htivnirtli 
[tB  anvils  ran^  only  under  the 
ed  for  swords  and  spears, 

and  the  luisy   thoii-ands  that   went   in   and   out 

:ied  in  the  panoply  ot 
war. 

The  death  of  Romulus  was  rendered  more 

lie  fact  that  he  had  not  bequeathed 

;'irit  to  a  son,  who,  stepping  into  his  place, 

ini^ht  lead  the  people  on  in  the  path  of  glory 

which    they    had    so  long  been    tivadinir.      A 

kinir  could   not  be  made  at  once,  for  the 


-•'•  KINGS  oi    K  o  M  i. . 

Ii.t.-rn-eniim— Choice  of  a  ! 

mans  ;ui«l   Sahines  who  composed  the  nation, 

•  so  thoroughly  comminirled 
feel  like  one  people.  "While  the  latter  1> 
that  l»y  t<»<>  easily  yielding  they  might  wholly 

their     claims,    the     farmer     spurned    the 
thought  <>f  having  a  t'oiviirner  placed  upon  the 

throne. 

The  safety  of  the  nation  demanding  a  head, 
the  >  iniu-d,  l»y  turns,  the  r«»yal  piv. 

•••dy  wa-  conip.ised  of  a  Inn,' 
individuals,  taken  equally  from  t! 

<livi<K-<l  tln-mselvi's  into 

each  member  pn-idt-d    l>y  tunis  IB  n  de- 

cade.    Tin-    time   that   each    held    the 
ment  \va-  lin  d  the  admin- 

ihem  all  in  i-.-ration.     A 
d   l»y   in  this  manner  withoir 
the  interval  was.  In  MM  thi-  cirCUHl 
an   intiTn-^nnni.     The  people 

•i>fu'd  with  this  inod<  ernnien;. 

ared  to  t:  pronld  h;. 

king. 

An  election  was  accordingly  held ;  and  the 

clu>iee    fell    n]>on    Nunia   I'mnjiilins,  a  ]>rivate 
individual,  livinir  near  Cures,  a  city  ..f  tl: 

.     lie  hesitated,  BOO  to  accept  the 

chai':  •vt-rninir  a  martial  and   impetuous 

people:   1'iit,  persuaded  1,.  and  eir 


\i  \     PoMPILl 


Uuus. 


16   finally   eame   t«»    K"ine,  and   was   tin-re 
with  the  in>iirnia  «>f  royalty. 

:he  iir>t  place,  it  was  5m- 

ain  the  confidence  of  the  people; 

and  he  knew  very  well  tl.  der  t<>acc«Mii- 

pli-h  thi-i.  he  niu-t  >h«»w  hi.s  coiitideiiee  in  t 

:•  assumed   anth'T- 

•ian    he  three   hundred    men, 

•A-hnm    K.iiiiiilus    always    kept 
al»<»ii  rson  as  guards,  t 

1    him    higher   in    the 
•-t'  his  s'i 

their  tl  V«im 

d  fur  a  ma.iriiitie.-nt   tern- 
ancient 

wa-  tu  1, 
haps.  :ly.  an  arch,  in  the  furm 

the  muiiareh 
:.       It-     b 

Nun.:  !i   in  time 

IT,  and   -hut   in   ' 

.    as    thf  wa-    cumph-t.-d.   he 

;—  emhle  alx'iit  it,  and,  in 
a  very  solemn  m;i  its  mass! 

ivxpr. 
that  the  pi-:ife  w;  were   then   enj" 


K  [HGS    o  F    KM  M 


Religion  of  the  Romans. 


with  all  nations,  might  continue  during  his 
reign.  Wonderful  as  it  may  seem,  after  the 
death  of  JSTuma,  these  gates  were  closed  twice, 
only,  during  a  period  of  more  than  six  hundred 
years. 

So  great  was  the  anxiety  of  JSTuma  to  main- 
tain peace  and  promote  the  welfare  of  his  peo- 
ple, that  he  favored  a  belief  generally  enter- 
tained, that  the  goddess  Egeria  and  the  Muses 
appeared  to  him,  and  taught  him  how  to  rule 
his  kingdom.  This  belief  gave  great  weight  to 
his  infractions,  and  his  wishes  seemed  to  be 
regarded  as  divine  commands. 

The  Romans  believed  in  an  immortal  race  of 
beings,  inhabiting  the  sky,  whom  they  called 
gods.  These  were  regarded  as  the  creators  and 
preservers  M!' all  tilings,  as  intimately  acquainted 
with  human  ail'airs,  and  mindful  of  the  action 
of  men  and  states,  rewarding  good  and  puni^h- 
iiig  evil.  The  worship  of  these  gods  was  per- 
formed in  a  very  irregular  manner,  and  one  of 
N unia's  earliest  cares  was  to  reduce  it  to  a 
regular  system. 

lie  instituted  an  order  of  priests  that  after- 
wards became  so  highly  respected  that  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  Rome,  and  even  em- 
perors, were  proud  to  be  of  the  number.  These 
were  called  Salii.  They  were  created  in  honor 


NUMA      PuMIMI.i  29 

The  Salii— Division  of  Lands. 

of  Mars,  and  their  name  is  derived  fruiii  the 
won;  U)  dance,  because,  «>n  certain  ll-ti- 

val  days,  they  pa— ed  about  the  city,  dancing 
and  >inging  in  honor  of  that  divinity.  Their 
number  was  originally  twelve,  but  they  were 
afterwards  increased  to  twenty-four  by  Tullus 

.ins. 

I'.y  thus  directing  ti  i»n  of  the  people 

to  matters  of  religion,  he  E  d  in  piv 

ing  a  pr<>tbund   peace.      In   the    mean    time,  he 

d    them    to   cultivate    b:.  industry, 

and  taught  them  that   id.  rtt  hateful  to 

the  Lr"d>.      II  i  them  t«  •  be  contented 

with  whatever  might  be  their  lot  in  life.  lie 
cheri-hed  in  them  p-ner«»us  -eiitinieiits,  and 
in-j»ired  them  with  love  fur  the  gods,  with 

whuse  ir bit-s  he  suutrlr  importunity  to 

impress   them.     In   a   short    time,  the    Roman 

:-went   a1  •.     Numa 

was  loved,  almost  ad«»ivd.  by  them;  and   they, 

in  turn,  were  the  admiration  of  all  surrounding 

nations. 

In  perfecting  his  reirulatioii-,  Xuma  causi-d 
the  boundaries  of  the  Roman  State  to  be  marked 
out.  The  lands  which  had  :  tuired  by 

liomulus  he  divided  among  the  indigent  citi- 
.  in  order  t«»  preserve  them  from  the  com- 
minion  of  erime>  to  which  they  might  be  driven 


30  K  INGS     OF     R  O  M  E  . 

Distribution  of  the  Citizens— Death  of  Numa. 

by  poverty.  The  country  was  divided  into 
pagi,  or  boroughs,  and  over  each  borough  was 
a] (pointed  a  governor  or  overseer.  Through 
the  instrumentality  of  these,  the  people  were 
encouraged  to  industry  and  alove  of  husbandry. 
Kama  frequently  went  out  himself  from  the 
city  to  visit  his  agricultural  subjects,  inspected 
their  farms,  censured  the  indolent,  and  ad- 
vanced the  industrious  to  posts  of  honor  and 
trust. 

In  order  to  unite  more  perfectly  the  two  peo- 
ple composing  the  Roman  nation,  he  distributed 
all  the  citi/ens  into  companies,  according  to 
their  arts  and  trade-;.  Thus  the  distinction  be- 
tween Sabines  ami  Romaic  was  entirely  for- 
gotten, and  all  the  people  were  thoroughly 
united  into  one. 

Not  among  the  least  of  the  works  of  Numa 
wa-  the  attempt  which  he  mad-  to   reform  the 
calendar.      In    this   lie   showed   a  great  deal  of 
skill,  although  it  was  reserved  for  Julius  ( 
to  accomplish  this  difficult  task. 

AVhen  death  at  last  came-  to  put  an  end  to 
his  peaceful  labors,  he  had  become  quite  old. 
Four-core  years  had  pas-ed  over  him,  more 
than  half  of  which  had  been  devoted  to  th- 
rice of  his  country.  The  news  of  his  departure 
seemed  to  carry  desolation  everywhere. 


N  I'  M  A      I'o  M  I'  I  I.  I  I  31 

Mourn i Hi.-  ' 

only  (lid  the  lion.  6  lor  hiin  a<  a  lather, 

but  tin-  neighboring  nations  mourned  that  a 
benefactor  was  lost  to  all  mankind.  In  tokm 
of  their  sorrow,  they  j>oiired  into  Koine  to  aid 
in  doing  honor  to  his  remains,  bringing  with 
them  and  public  offerings  without  num- 

ber. The  bier  was  carried  by  the  Senators, 
followed  by  a  long  proce-  men, 

w«>men,  and  children  crowded   after,  not  . 
were  attending   the   funeral   of  an   : 
.  but  with  tear-;  and  loud   lamentations,  as 
if  thev  had  lost  a  bel  Jive  in  the  bloom 

ofl 


TULLUS  IIOSTILIDS, 

FROM   670  TO   638  B.C. 


liilii.  ulti.  >  \\iil.  i 

1  Cmiuiii 

ktll    nl    Till- 

Los. 


FIGHT   BETWEEN   THE   HOEATII   AND   THE   CURATII. 


III. 
TULLUS  HOSTILIUS. 


SCARCELY  had  the  peaceful  Numa  been  laid 
in  liis  grave,  than  the  brazen  gates  of  the  tern 
pie  of  Janus  were  thrown  open,  as  an  indication 
that  Rome  was  once  more  plunged  in  war. 

Tullus  Hostilius,  a  Eoman  by  birth,  and  the 
son  of  a  distinguished  general,  was  elected 
king ;  and  his  whole  reign  proved  to  be  one  of 
war  and  bloodshed.  His  first  act  was,  however, 
a  generous  one,  and  wrell  calculated  to  secure 
for  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  coun- 
trymen. No  sooner  had  he  received  the  scep- 
tre, than  he  caused  a  proclamation  to  be  made 
throughout  the  city,  that  it  was  his  intention  to 
receive  nothing  whatever  of  what  had  been 
appropriated  for  the  support  of  his  predeces 
sore ;  that  his  own  private  income  was  sufficient 
for  his  necessities,  and  that  the  lands  devoted 
to  the  former  kings  should  be  divided  among 
the  poorer  citizens.  Nor  did  he  stop  here ;  for, 


38  K  I  N  G  S    O  F     II  O  M  K  . 

Generous  Conduct  of  Tullus  Hostiliu?. 

notwithstanding  this  noble  provision  for  his 
more  humble  subjects,  there  still  remained  a 
large  number  who  were  destitute  of  lands  and 
houses.  In  order  to  accommodate  these,  he 
caused  the  walls  of  the  city  to  be  extended  so 
as  to  inclose  a  very  considerable  tract,  embra- 
cing Mount  Caelius  ;  and  here  he  made  such  an 
allotment,  that  not  a  single  citizen  of  Rome  re- 
mained without  ground  sufficient  for  a  dwelling 


The  principal  events  of  his  reign  grew  out  of 
the  jealousy  which  sprang  up  between  Rome 
and  the  city  of  Alba,  which  might  be  called 
the  mother  of  Rome.  During  the  reign  <>f 
7S'  iiuia,  tin-so  two  cities  had  continued  in  entire 
i'  with  each  other;  but  no  sooner  had  Tul- 
1ns  received  the  sceptre,  than  difficulties  broke 
out  between  them. 

War  was  declared  on  both  sides  ;  and  the  Al 
ban  king  set  out,  without  delay,  with  a  power- 
ful army,  for  Rome.  He  died,  however,  of  an 
insidious  disease,  just  after  bringing  his  troops 
within  five  miles  of.  the  city,  and  after  having 
prepared  to  attack  it.  With  great  presence  of 
mind,  his  officers  concealed  his  death,  and  se- 
lected Mettius  Fuffetius  to  conduct  the  war. 

News  of  the  king's  death  was,  however,  car- 
ried to  Rome,  and  Tullus  collecting  immedi- 


Tri.  i.  rs    HOBTILI 

!ied    forth    by   niirht, 
';ip,  and  pushed  <>n  rapidly 

with  the  intention  of  destroying  Allia.      Metti- 

us,   hearing   of   this    procedure,  sent    with    all 

i  an  ambassador  to  Tulh;  g  him  to 

stop.  MUM!  t«>  propose  sonu'thinir  t«>rhis 

'U'rati<»n   which   i  -«1  the  ii. 

H  than  that  «•!'  A! 

Tullus  >t"{'{H-(l  ;  ami    M  -ivmy 

C"minir  up  sm.ii  at'trr,  the  t\v«>  C'Unmumlers  held 
il  l-.inr  conference,  wl 
them   that   the   <l  :'  their  i< 

•led  by  a  combat  bet1. 

six  individual-,  thn-e   t«»  '  d  from  each 

of  the  hn>tile  an: 

Champi'.ns  mi    bolfti 

•nderful  emu- 
lation  ar  :   amoiiLT  the  oilicers  and  s..l- 
.     The  !•  :-.imd    izTeat  ditli- 
culry  in  making  clioice  «.f  the  m—t  Miitabie  j.er- 
:   and  tin                 Q  wouhl  liavc  BAOflt 
impo>-ibK'.  ii   !               :ia<l  not  called  to  mind  the 

^•rdinary  youtlis,  thr. 

whom   were   Kmnaiis   and   thive   Albans,  and 
all  cl  L      The-e  youths  were  th- 

ipriogoftwin  :iom  had  married 

Iloratius,  a  Roman,  and  the  other  ( 'uriatii; 
Alban.      They     were,    con^MjiuMitly,    cousins; 


40  K  [HOfl    0  i     ROM  K. 

th.-  Horatii  and  the  Curiatii. 

and,   what    was   most   remarkable,  were   born 
upon  the  same  day. 

Tlie  necessary  arrangements  for  the  combat 
having  been  completed,  the  two  armies  were 
drawn  up  opposite  to  each  other,  and  the 
youths  were  led  into  the  centre  of  the  space 
••en  them.  At  an  appointed  signal,  their 
swords  were  drawn,  and  they  rushed  upon  one 
another  with  the  fury  of  d< 

•iied    in    breathless   silence,  their   hopes   ot 

success,  for  a  season,  equally  balanced. 

Pr<  t  shout  ..t'  j,,y  ascrndfd  tVom    the 

Alban  ranks  and  in  the  centre  of  the  tield  four 

combatants  alone  were  visible;  twonf  the  Ib»- 

ratii  lay  dead,  and  the  remaining  bn-ther.  sur- 
rounded   by   his    victorious   fo€8,  >eemed  I! 
eiied    with    imniedia-  .ctiou.      Hitl 

how,  had   not   been  wounded,  whi 

weaki'iie«l  by  divers   inj- 

lie    resolved    to   light   tl.  'y;    and, 

with  this  in  view,  darted  away  from  them. 

\e  himself  by  ilight.      Hi-  eneiir- 
ing  him  to  be  an  easy  prey,  followed  exultingly, 
though  with  uiHMjua'. 

Perceiving  them  to  be  suflicientl v  separated, 
lloratiu<  wheeled  sinldenly  round,  and  rushing 
with  the  fury  nf  a  madman  upon   his  ih 
pursuer,  stretched  him  lifeless  upon  the  ground. 


B.O8TILIU8.  !  1 


i  the  Alban  General. 


Ill    ti.  manlier    hr  .-olid, 

:inally,  the  third,  when  a  drat'eiiini:  shmit 
nt'  j->y  buist  fr»m  liif  K»man  ranks,  while  the 
vanquished  Albans,  with  un<  ;  s«»rr.  >w, 

threw  down  their  arms,  and,  in  the  attitu-. 

iriently  awaited   the  orders   to   which 

•tedly  Bt 
On  returning  to  R« 

sister  because  sh«-  wept  over  the 
u-iatii,  to  one  of  wi 

trothed.      For   th'-  mm-d    to  die, 

but  was  6Ub>  v    ae<|nitted  -to  of 

MettiiH    Fulletius   was    |  d   to    return 

with  his  army  to  Alba;  but  having  a* 
not  long  after,  t<»  i  to  their 

Veientiuns,  he  was  taken  by  Tul- 

lus  and  barbar..u>ly  put  to  di-atli.      At  the  >anie 

time,  all  -  >t'  Alba  were  removed  to 

\<1   their  y  was  levelled  to 

ground. 

nt.  a  war  broke  out 
with   the   Fi'i  .  which    re-nlted    in   their 

overthrow.     Then   t<.llu\ved   a   Bttoceesion    ot' 

:y   battles  with   the  Sabine<.  a   portion   <•!' 
which  nation  had  not  removed  to  R..me.  at  the 
time  of  their  union  with  the  Roman  ]»e"j,h\ 
Tliese  wars  were  followed  by  a  dreadful 


42  Kix ns   OF   ROMK. 

Pestilence  in  Rome— Death  of  Tullus. 

tilcnce,  wliich  carried  off,  daily,  hundreds  of  the 

citizens  of  Home.  Tullus  did  all  in  his  power 
to  mitigate  the  calamity,  and  by  constantly  oc- 
cupying his  people,  and  furnishing  them  with 
excitement,  caused  them  to  forget  in  some  de- 
gree the  frightful  scourge  with  which  they 

vi.-ited. 

The  plague  gradually  subsided,  but  the  days 
of  the  warlike  king  were  drawing  to  a  <•' 
and  he  who  but  lately  thought  that  nothin. 
trayed  so  much  weakness,  or  was  so  unworthy 
of  a  king,  as  to  be  occupied  with  matters  of  re- 
te  a  slave  to  every  kind  of  super- 
stition.    While  ei  day,  in   perf«>rm- 
iiiir  a  >acriti<-r  to  Jupiter,  a  violent  storm  a: 
the    1                 .    which    he    dwelt    was    -.truck    by 

ling,  and    both    himself  and   his   property 

all  reduced 


ANGUS   MAIM' I  US, 

FROM  038  TO 


f'h;ii;i''t«T   of  !iti<m    of    i 

Troul.li-s    with    tin-    LitiiK     < 
u-gemeiitot  .i.li«:  Inij.i. 


I  V. 

ANGUS  .M  A  III' 1  US. 


AN«  i  -  M  \i:«  ii  B,  though  tin-  :i  of  the 

le  Nunuuand  a  m  MiruMu-d  thn 

itioll, 

and    f'>r    his    t'»:. 

a  skilful 

11'-  elevation  •  -1  t.» 

an  u  :  tin-  part  <>t'  tin-  j.roph- 

tin-  i-viU  n-snitin^  Inmi  tin-  warlii  -itiun 

•  illus.     '1  fa    had,  in 

•HIM!,  and    CMIMIIP 

ami    the    arts    had    not,   f<>r    many 

d  that  care  and  proU-i-timi   which 

a   kini^   should    bf»t<.>w   upon    matters  of  Mich 

Th<  wi'i-c  not  disappointed  ontin-lv  in 

tlu-ir  an    blfl    : 

v>y  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to  correct   the 

that  had  liueii  I  i  l»v  his  j>re«  i 


KINGS  01    ROM  i. . 


Reforms  in  Home— Trouble  with  the  Latin?. 


sor.  The  worship  in  the  temples,  and  the  daily 
sacrifices,  were  once  more  conducted  with  all 
their  ancient  regularity  and  solemnity,  and 
whatever  had  been  neglected  or  suffered  to  de- 
cay he  restored  to  its  original  condition.  The 
arts  began  again  to  flourish,  and  the  field?  and 
plains  that  lay  around  the  city  resumed  the 
thriving  appearance  which  they  were  w«>ut  to 
wear  during  the  reign  of  Xiiina. 

The  preparations  which   Ancus  made   for  n, 
peaceful   reign  were  scarcely  completed,  when 
tin-  re>tle-s  Latins,  llatlered  by  the  h«» 
CC8S,  and    regardless   of  the   tn-aty   establi-h'-d 
with  Tullus.  began  to  make  inclusions  into  the 
Roman  territories.     Unwilling  to  report  t 
lent  measures,  if  sat:-;'  <iild  be  other 

obtained.  «-nt  ambassador-  to  the  Latins, 

instructing  them   to  complain  of  the  out: 
committed   again>t   t1  ffi   people,  and  to 

demand  reparation.      I  Jut  the  Latins  being  un- 
willing to  atone   for  their  mi-deeds  he   A 
mined  to  make  them  an  example  to  the  • 
nations  around  him. 

His  first  step  was  towards  1'olitorium,  a  large 
and  well-fortitied  city  belonging  to  this  people. 
Having  broken    down  the  walls,  and  entered 
the  city  with   his  victorious  troops,  li< 
the    people    to   be   di>armed.   and,   without  de- 


A.*  llARCIl 

Con.;  l.:itins— Knln  | 

stroyiiur  a  >iiiirl«'  h<>u<o,  marched  them  all.  ; 
tin'  example  of  Till  hi-. 

This   conquest   having   been   made 
laid   E  Telleme,  and  1;  '  <  Ficana, 

eompelln  »  £u  1m lit,  and  tbrein^ 

tlie  inhabitants  to  follow  ;  I'olitorium  to 

limne.      The    Latin<    'vmaininu:    uiK'nuqiK-n-d 
and  resolute  in  their  .-e  t<>  tho  Rmnan 

•ncentrated  the':  ''     .iillia, 

wlu-re  they  made  ]>iv]>ar  >r  a  tinal  en- 

(•(•untrr  with  their  viet«»ri.»n<  ; 

Ancus  proc  -Meni  with   entire 

He    Hindi-    him-elt'   ma-ter    of   their 
j-h.'ld,  de].rivt-d   tlu-ni   of  tlu-ir  arm?,  and, 
causing  all   their  treasures   to    l>e    ri'inoved    to 
Koine,  sent  them  thither  also,  as  he   had 
others  upon  former  occasions.     Thus  the  popu- 
lation <,f  K,.me  was  airain  augmented  by  sev- 
eral   thousands,   and    it    became    necessary   to 
;d  its  limits.     The  Lrroiind  lyin^  near  the 

'.  was  allotted  to  the  : 

in  order  to  unite  the  Aventine  to  tlie  Pala- 
tine hill.     Janicnlum  was  also  inclosed  within 
;ry,  that  it  miirht  never  be  used  as  a  place 
of  strength  for  an  enemy, — a  connection  with  it 
g  formed  by  means  of  a  wooden   bridge 
built  acmss  the  Tiber. 

Besides   the   great   additions   which  Ancus 


K  i  •    1!  o  M  i  . 

Public  Improvements. 

made  to  the  population  ami  extent  of  lion, 
found  means  of  making  a  i»ort  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Tiber,  quite  sufficient  lor  the  wants  of  the 
city.     Here   he   also   founded  and  fortiik-d  a 
town  which  lie  called  Ostia. 

Jn    proportion    as    the    niunl>er    of    citi. 
increased,  licentiousness  and  crime  inciv 
also ;  and  greater  severity  on  the  part  of  the 
government   became  ry.     In   order   to 

check  the  audacity  of  evil-doers,  and  to  intinii- 
duU',  by   the  fear  of  puni>lm.       .  .  h«»m 

••ct  for  the  laws  could  not  iv  \ncus 

built  a  prison  in  the  midst  of  the  cit  \ ,  iu-ar  the 
Forum.     Th«  v  effect  of  this  sooi 

quite  evident. 

The  success  of  Ancus  as  a  '.  did  not 

•  him  to  forget  his  duty  to  the  go  Ig,  ,\ 
prosjx ct  ••!'  peace  having  occurred,  he  took  OC- 
casio1  thanks  by  enlaririn^  tlie 

templi-  of  Jupiter    Feretriu-,  which   had 
dedicated  to  this  divinity  by  U'»mulus.  alter  his 

' 
died,  l)i-!-  family  and   lamented  by 

ret  more  - 

de>ir«ms  of  promoting  the  welfare  of  his  coun- 

and    the   cause   of  religion   and   morality. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  affection  of  his  people, 


A  .\  OUI     M  A  ]•:  i   i  r  <  .  49 


Death  of  Ancus. 


the  :  d  upon  him  ; 

and  at  his  death  almost  as  much  S'-rr..\v  was 
manih-red  a>  UJMHI  the  decease  of  Numa.  Ho 
h-t't  many  endiii-iiii:  monuments  of  his  wi>d«»m 
and  prudence;  and  the  irivatm— <  t«»  which 

linally  arrivi-d,  wa-,  in  no  small  degree, 

t«»  his  generous  efi« 


TAiiormrs  ruscus, 


j  o 


y  of  Tuniuinius     His  ani\;il  at   Koine- -II. 
a*  Kin-     Kiilaiu- -iiK-iit  ai  the  Senate — Ware  of  Taiquinius 
-     I'ul.lic   Work*— Story  Of  \]\>-   Auirur   Navins      Inva>i.i:i  i.t' 
tin-    'ryrrlii-niaiis      New    Wall    al-out    K.-IIH-      'li 
'II,.-  l'a\.-.l   lloa.U      liilli.-ully  with  th  Mm- 

del  "f  'lai«iMiiiiii>     >tiMlj^"iii  "f  'lana-jnil      Su<-i-i->>  • 


THE    OMEN*    GRANTED    TO 


V. 
TARQUINIUS  1'IIISCUS. 


T.\i:nriNirs  PKisrrs,  the  fifth  king  r>f  Rome, 
\\a>  a   mail  of  ( 'orinthian  <»riirin,  wh<>,  during 

t!u«  iviLrii  ni1  ed  !•» 

hv   tlic    nuinen>us  ldTU)tag68   then 
,.f  ..htaiiiiiiir  \vi-alth   or  IIOIKT.     On  his 
ii.anird  l.y  his  will',  Tan- 

a<|iiil,  uii'l  a  n  le,  living 

a«ijaci-!:'  ndrd  >l.»\vly  over 

:nl,  takinir  otV  his  cap,  lK-w  ra]'i«llv 

al'»ir  ;  in  a  little  while  it  ivturno<l,  and,  nttrrin^ 

a  j.iorcing  Pt-reani,  rcplactMl  tlu?  cap  ami  di-ap- 

d.      "  U.-h.ild,    Liicuiiin,"    crit-d    his    will-, 

"a    meaaengeK    Irnm    lu-avm,    ].. •rti-ndiiiir    the 

magnificent  fortune  1    Th<>n  >halt  he  the 

n.)l)k->t  anmn^  tho  imhles  <>['  K<M: 

A  ~;  anger  possessing  such  wealth  ami  such 
personal  attractions,  c<>uld  not  n-main  lonir  un- 
noticed in  Koine;  nor  did  he  ]<>>e  any  oppor- 
tunity of  gaining  the  attention  and  conciliating 


56  1\  1  N  < ,  S     OF     Ft  n  M  I ;  . 

Tarquinius  eler-U'il  Kin-r. 

tlic  friendship  of  the  people.     Even  the 
sought  him ;  and  a  mutual  and  strong  attach- 
ment sprang  up  between  them. 

As  usual,  soon  after  the  deatli  of  Aliens,  an 
election  of  a  kini:  wa>  held,  and  Tarquinius 
with  little  difficulty,  able  to  succeed  him  a 
the  throne:     In  order  to  strengthen  himself  in 
the  opinion  of  the  lower  classes  of  JM-OJ,: 
choM-  a  hundred  men  from  among  the  Plebeian-, 
and  elevated  them  to  the   rank  of  Patricians 

and  Senators.    Thus  the  Senate  was  com]. 

of  three  hundred   members,  and   so   continued 
duri:  .1  centuries. 

Th<  -  adjacent  to  Koine  v. 

in  throwing  -  in  the  way  of  tiie  new 

kiiiic.  and  upon  the  most  trifling  prel 
:  Jrurians,  and   the   Sabin- 
:;d  oaths  which  had  b- 
from  them  by  1,  '-essore. 

Tli-  •   from   t: 

AjU'iohe,    airainst    which    Tarquinius 
marclu-d  with   a   powerful   army.     His  si:- 

and     having    jJundered     and 
burned  the  town,  he  currie.l  --reat  numb. 

inhabitants   to    Rome.     This   achievement 
commemorated  by  the  building  of  an  im- 
TCUS  between  the  Palatine  and  Aven- 
tine  hills. 


PBIB< 


of  Tarquinius—  Public  Works. 


Hut  Tarquinius  had  not  much  time  t<>  r 

B  watched  him  on  every 
>le,  to  accomplish  liis 

downfall.      Nation  after  nation   loll  upon  him, 
.  one  by  one,  when  they  linally 
contrived   to   unite   their   stivnirth  ;    but, 
then,  they   were   unable  to  match   the   skill   of 
the   Roman   kinir,  <»r  the  valor  of  the    \l 

-ained  rapid  and  brilliant 
f  the, 

valuable 

Obtaining  a  li;  :V.»m   WftI 

term: 

.  by   >iirr«»un..  «  ith   a   moiv  >nb- 

al    wall.      11-'    had    ol»erve<l,  durinir   his 

incipal  di-frr 
•  f  cavalry  ;  and,  to  rein- 
:his,  he  resolved   to   improve   the   pn 
!-;unity   by  adding  other  eentnries  to  ; 
•itted   by    Konmlu>,  and  to  have  them  dis- 
tinirui>hed   by   his  own  name.     Makinir  known 
tion,  he  found  it  bitterly  opposed  by 
ry  celebrated  angnr  named   Navius,  who 
;   that  serious  calamities  would  befall 
any  of  the  institutions  nulus 

was  very  angry  at  this  opposition, 
but  being  afraid  to  disregard  the  warnings  of 


KING 3   o  |.    IJ  «•  M  i: . 


of  thf  Hii^nr  N.-ivins. 


the  augur,  ho  determined,  at  least,  to  prove 
him  to  be  a  fal-c  prophet.  Summoning  Xavius 
to  liis  tribunal,  he  said  to  him,  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  number  of  spectators:  "This  is  the 
time,  "Xavius.  for  y< MI  to  show  the  certainty  of 
your  ])ro])hetic  art;  for  I  have  in  my  thoughts 
a  great  undertaking,  ami  would  like  to  know 
whether  it  be  practicable  or  not/'  Without 
much  hesitation.  Xavins  assured  the  king  that 
it  would  be  practicable.  TarquiniiH  then  tak- 
ing out  a  ra/.or  and  a  hone  iVom  under  his  robe, 
said  :  "  1  wisli  to  know,  by  the  rnK-s  of  y«Mir 
art.  whether,  if  I  >:rike  !  with  thi>  ra- 

i    shall    cut    it   asiiinh-r."      L'»«»kin^  undi>- 
turbed  at  the  kinir.   Xavius  ivplied:    ''Strike 
lideiitly.  as  you  pr.>p.-rd,  Tai'fpiin- 
ius.  f-»r   it   will   In-   cur  a-under;    if  ii"t.   I    am 
uhmit  to  any  punishment."     The  king 
struck,  and    the    rax«>r.  cK-aving    the    hone,  cut 
al>o  the  hand  that  -upporU-d  it. 

In  ci»nso<inence  nf  this.  Tanjuinius  abandoned 
liis  design  of  adding  to  the  number  of  the 
tunes,  but    he   do.ubled   the  number  of  men  in 
already  intituled.     AVith  an  army 
••ain  made  ]»reparati«»ns  to 
•id  Tyrrhenians,  who,  not- 
withstanding their  recent  defeats,  lust   no  op- 
portunity to  annoy  him      Once  more  he 


T  A  K  o  (   IHIU8     PRI8<    i 

Iiua-  >  rrliriiians. 

i  destroyed   the   ilower  of 

their    army;     Imt    tlie    Tyrrhenians,    still     un- 
daunted,  united  all  their  forces  and  committed 

terrible,  ravaire-  upon  the  Roman  territor 

••[iiinius,  mustering  all  his  troops,  sallied 
forth  to  repel  the  invaders.  One  division  of 
his  army,  under  tin-  command  of  K^eriu*,  his 
lieutenant,  was  put  to  tli^ht  and  sorely  beaten  ; 
but  Tarquinius  himself,  without  jiayin^  a:- 
tention  to  this  di-a-t^r.  went  from  om-  <•' 
siimtlier  of  Tyrrheiiia.  putiin^  to  ilie  >w<.r«l  all 
who  opposed  him,  and  plundering  wherever  he 
could  tind  any  tliiu^  of  value.  Kiicounteriu^ 

irmy  that  had  rotiti-(l  Kirerius.  he  fell  upon 
it  \\itli  thi'  utmost  fury,  and,  not  contented 
with  a  simple  victory,  he  whipped  its  leaders 
throu-h  •  :  Kidrme,  belu-aded  >ome, 

and  sent  others  of  them  into  pi-rpetual    banish- 
ment.    Tin-  Tyrrhenian-,  routed  and  beaten  on 

v   side,  lied   to   tin-   fa>tne>scs  of  ihc  nioim- 

i;-ave  them-elve<  \\\>  to  their  coii«pier- 

'J'ar^juinius  was  greatly  applaudc*!  for  his 

brilliant  achievements,  and  the  Senate,  in  token 

of  their  appreciation  of  his  military  skill,  de- 

i  to  him  the  honors  of  a  triumph. 
After  some  further  difficulties  with   the  Sa- 
bines,  whom  lie  finally   overcame,  Tar<jiiiniu3 
was  able  to  give  his  attention  to  various  enter- 


K   1  \  <i  S     0  V 


New  wall — Sewers — Paved  w;iys. 


prises  of  a  peaceful  character.  Besides  rebuild- 
ing the  walls  of  Kome,  which  was  done  in  a 
substantial  manner,  he  constructed  many  other 
works,  that  have  always  been  the  wonder  and 
glory  of  the  city.  Among  these,  not  the  Iear4 
remarkable  were  the  sewers,  used  for  collecting 
the  foul  water  from  the  streets  and  conveying  it 
to  the  Tiber.  These  sewers,  or  cloacce,  as  they 
were  called,  were  constructed  under  almost  all 
the  streets  of  Kome,  and  nearly  every  house  was 
fin-nibbed  with  pipes  communicating  with  them. 

The  celebrated  paved  ways,  or  roads,  of 
Koine  were  also  introduced  by  Tarquinius.  It 
is  true  that,  during  his  time,  they  were  not  ex- 
tended beyond  the  city,  because  there  was  very 
little  friendly  intercourse  with  the  surrounding 
nations.  About  four  hundred  years  after  the 
foundation  of  Kome,  these  roads  extended  to 
the  most  distant  provinces,  constituting  the 
m«-t  useful  and  the  most  durable  of  her  work-. 

Tar<[uinius,  having  reigned  thirty-eight  years, 
was  rendered  incapable  of  managing  the  affairs 
of  go\  eminent,  by  reason  of  his  advanced  age. 
finding  that  Servius  Tullius,  his  adopted 
enjoyed  the  esteem  of  the  Senate  as  well  as  of 
the  people,  he  committed  almost  every  thing  to 
his  rare.  This  was  a  .-"iinv  of  great  vexation 
to  the  TV  >f  Annir-  Maivin.-.  hi  prede- 


TARQUINTUS   PRISCUS.  61 

Sons  of  Ancus— Murder  of  Tarqnlnins. 

•  :-,  who  had  always  regarded  Tanjuinius  as 
an  usurper  of  their  rights.  Upon  several  occa- 
sions they  liad  made  ineffectual  attempts  to  re- 
move him,  and  now,  as  they  became  well  con- 
vinced that  he  would  not  resign  the  sceptre  in 
their  favor,  they  resolved  to  be,  at  least,  re- 
venged of  the  injury  which  they  had  received. 

Two  persons,  whose  services  they  had  >ecured, 
contriving  to  obtain  access  to  the  king,  slew  him 
by  means  of  axes  which  they  had.  concealed 
about  their  persons.  Tana<|uil.  his  wife,  • 
hearing  the  tumult,  ru-hcd  to  the  chamber  of 
the  king,  where  many  persons  were  already  MF 
sembled.  Instantly  deciding  what  would  be 
lu-r  best,  policy,  she  stooped  over  the  body  of 
the  king,  pretending  to  examine  his  wound,  and, 
pronouncing  it  to  be  nothing  more  than  a  slight 
scratch,  ordered  bandages  and  ointments,  re- 
questing, at  the  same  time,  that  all  present 
should  leave  the  palace. 

Finding  herself  alone  with  the  dead  body, 
she  admitted  Servius,  for  whom  she  had  pre- 
viously sent,  and,  showing  him  the  late  king, 
she  laid  hold  of  his  right  hand,  beseeching  him, 
at  the  same  time,  that  he  would  not  suffer  the 
death  of  his  father-in-law  to  pass  unrevenged, 
nor  his  mother-in-law  to  be  exposed  to  the  in- 
sults of  their  enemies.  "Servius,"  said  she, 


K  I  .N  (,  S     O  K      K  o  M  K. 


StnitaL't-m  of  Tanaquil. 


"  it'  you  act  as  a  man,  the  kingdom  is  yours, 
and  not  theirs,  who.  by  the  hands  of  others, 
have  perpetrated  the  basest  of  crimes." 

Having  arranged  every  thing  with  Serving 
she  proceeded  to  a  balcony,  which  overlooked 
the  street,  where  a  large  multitude  of  people 
had  assembled,  to  learn  the  result  of  what  had 
happened.  ANSuming  a  ch'-i-rfnl  countenance, 
she  commanded  their  attention,  and  then  told 
tin-in,  in  a  pleasant  manner,  that  tliere  Wftfl 

ion   tor  their  alarm,  as  the  king  had  only 
heen   stunned   by   the   blow   which    In-   had    re- 
-   told   the   pcopl  \va- 

A  ish   that   they   should   oliey   the   ordei 
Servius  Tullius,  \vlio  would  administer  ju~ 
and  sujiply  his  place  until  he  >liould  !»«•  a!-h-  to 
me   hi>  duties.     At   tiiia   intrlli^ence.  the 
le  exprefleed  i-ntire  satisfaction;  and. 
after.  Servius  made  his  appearance,  clothed  in 
the  robes  of  state,  and  attended  by  the  lie 
Seating  him-elf  upon  the  throne,  he  p: 
to  the  trial  of  some  caosea  then  in  pivL 
jud^intr  some,  and,  concerning  others,  piv 
ing  that  he  would  obtain  the  ki  nion. 

Thus,  lor  several    days,  the   king'.-   death   was 

;   Servius  in  the  i: 

time,  taking  every  opportunity  gthen  his 

own  inter 


SKKVIUS   TULLIUS. 

FROM  576  TO  532 


Kurly  lli>to]-y  .ition  of  tin- Throne — 

lli>  |iluii>  t<»  j::iiii  ill.-  <: 1  -\\iil  of  tli<-  IVo|,l.-     II.-  i 

•  ••I    Kini;      Hi-    AI.I.K']ICII~'  •  ni.-nt 

•  •f  tin-  (  iiy     Con. lu.  t   oi    I,.uiu>  Tai.piini.  M    iit- 

1.'lll|it    In   ol.t.lill    til.     I     |o\M,         M.M.l'T    of    S«" 

^ter. 


IMA   m::-  R  THE  HEAP  r><>r>Y  OF  IIKK  FA 


V  I. 

Slavics  in. i, i us. 


i  i.ifs,  accord! HIT  t«>  the  legend, 

was  the  son  of  a  female  slave  belon^im:  t«»  the 

li< »ld   of  Tanjuinius,   his    lather    l»ein--   i\ 

.  who  was  slain  while  bravely  ii^ht- 

inir  in  iH'halt'oi'liis  count:  11. MIS 

eirci: 

i"j«t  him,  and  t«»  c<lu- 
•  any  station  in  life  that  he  miirlit 

;  n  pa- 
ra 1  nf  his  expedition-, 

and  r\hiliite«l  BO  lunch  hravery  that  the   wlmle, 
ann\  d  t«>  him  a  >haiv  «»t'  prai>c   which 

n«»  ntlu-r  per~«»n  wa^  ahh-  t-»  claim. 

Ha\:nLr.  !•;>  ,M|uil,  place<l   hiniM-lt' 

np"ii    the   th;  ,.dy    related,  lie    iiuin- 

a<r»'d    fur  son  In    it   uninnh- 

.  l»ani>hini:  the  two  sons  of  Ancus  Marciiis, 

known  t-»  the  ]»e«»ple  that  Tan[iiinins 

.  tor  the  cele- 


i\  I  x  < ;  s    0  ?    K  "  M  I . 


Usurpation  of  Servins  Tullius. 


bration  of  his  funeral.  This  was  conducted  in 
the  most  magnificent  manner,  Servius  retaining, 
meanwhile,  the  robes  of  state,  together  with  all 
the  other  insignia  of  royalty. 

With  the  utmost  self-possession,  and  withm; 
consulting  the  wishes  of  either  the  people  or 
the  Senate,  he  took  upon  himself  the  adminis- 
tration of  public  affairs,  as  guardian  of  the  chil- 
dren of  the  late  king.  But,  notwithstanding 
the  favor  in  which  he  was  generally  held,  this 
proceeding  was  strongly  disapproved,  and  the 
Senate  resolved  that  they  would  compel  him  to 
lay  aside  the  robes  and  other  ensigns  of  royalty. 

Urei-iving  information  of  this  resolution, 
vius  applied  himself  to  llattor  and  court  the 
poorer  clasaea,  in  hopes  that  through  them  he 
miii-ht  be  able  to  retain  his  power.  To  this  end, 
•ailed  an  assembly  of  the  people,  and  made 
them  a  long  speech,  in  which  he  held  out  to 
them  promises  that  could  not  fail  to  call  forth 
the  most  noisy  applause.  On  every  hand  he 
was  extolled  for  his  fidelity  and  justice  to  his 
laetors,  for  his  humanity  and  generosity  to 
the  poor,  and  for  his  kindness  to  those  of  an 
interior  rank. 

On  the  following  day,  he  caused  a  list  to  be 
made  of  all  the  insolvent  debtors  in  Home,  to- 
gether with  the  sums  which  each  of  them  - 


T  r  i.  r.  i  us.  69 

plans  to  win  :• 

ctively.  Af  -""ii  as  this  li>t  was  coni])leted, 
he  commanded  tables  to  bo  placed  in  the  Forum, 
and,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  citizens,  he  paid 
the  money  to  the  creditors.  This  business  being 
done,  he  published  a  derive  bv  which  it  wa- 
ordained  that  those  who  had  c«>n  verted  the  pub- 
lic lauds  to  their  own  use  >hould  give  up 
session  within  a  certain  number  of  days;  and 
that  those  citi/.ens  who  had  no  lands  should 
give  in  their  names  to  him. 

Having  thus  acquired  a  great  multitude  of 
friends,  he  laid  aside  his  robes  of  state,  and, 
putting  on  a  very  mean  div-s,  came,  <>no  day, 
into  the  Forum.  Such  an  extraordinary  pro- 
ceeding eau-ed  a  irreat  sensation  throughout  the 
city,  and  the  people  came  to  the  place  in 
crowds,  to  know  it-  n  Sorvius,  mount- 

ing the  tribunal,  told  them,  in  a  long  speech, 
that,  inasmuch  as  it  was  the  determination  of 
the  Senate  and  the  Patricians  to  drive  him 
from  the  throne,  he  had  determined  to  K>t  the 
people  choose  some  one  to  rule  them  in  his 
stead.  "Take,  then,  the  rods,"  he  exclaimed, 
uand  give  them,  if  you  think  fit,  to  the  Patri- 
cians; my  presence  shall  cause  you  no  further 
trouble." 

The  people,  making  a  great  clamor,  entreated 
him  to  continue  in  the  administration  of  affairs. 


I\IN<;s     OF     KM  MR. 


Servioa  elected  King—  His  apprehensions. 


1  J  is  particular  friends,  who  were  scattered  about 
in  different  ])arts  of  the  Forum,  cried  out  that 
they  onirht  to  make  him  kinir,  and  demanded  a 
vote  of  the  people  to  be  taken.  The  demand 
bciiiir  constantly  repeated,  an  election  wa<  held, 
and,  as  iniirht  be  expected,  a  larire  majority  of 
the  people  cast  their  votes  f..r  him.  and  he  ac- 
cepted the  kindly  oflice,  though  the  Sena1 
fused  t<>  confirm  the  proceedings  of  the  people. 

l-'cai-inir  le<t  tlie   two  irrand-"iis  of  the   late 

kiiiir.  Tar<iuinius.  niiirht.  SOUK-  day,  dispute  with 

him  the  crown,  he  contrived  to  marry  them  to 

his   two  danirhters,  who  wnv   about  the  same 

Hut  th'  -hall  see,  was  in- 

sufficient to  protect  him  airain>t  the  envy  which 

reign  p'.wer  will  always  draw  upon  itself. 

Kretjiient  war-  occurred   during  almost  the 
entire   reiirn   of  Serviu<.  the   advantage 
nniformlynjM.nl'  .  ,f  tlie    Komans. 

turninir  victorioiU  from  his  iiist  campaign,  he 
undertonk  a  variety  of  political  improvements 
of  irreat  and  la>tiiiir  importance.  The>i*  im- 
provements have  servc(l  to  immortali/.e  hir=; 
name,  and  ]»laei-  him,  in  fact,  by  the  side  of  the 
iiivah-.-t  leiri-hitors  of  the  world. 

Th.  rk-  was  the  establishment 

of  tli  -try  of  the  Roman  citizens 

and  their  property.     He  then  divided  the  citi- 


T  i   1. 1. 1  r  s  .  71 

Kumrir.'iiK'Mt  of  the  City. 

.  according  to  their  possessions,  into  six 
•rs,  and  these  classes  he  subdivided  into 
centuries.  Each  of  these  classes  had  its  partic- 
ular arms ;  and  the  soldiers  selected  from  each, 
had  their  particular  positions  in  the  army. 
Previous  to  this,  the  poor  citizens  were  obliged 
to  pay  the  same  amount  of  taxes,  and  render 
the  same  services  in  war  as  the  rich ;  but  in 
uce  of  this  disposition  of  the  people, 
he  raised  soldiers  according  to  the  division  of 
the  centuries,  and  taxes  in  proportion  to  their 

The  population  of  Rome  having  very  much 

increased,  Servius  added  two  more  hills  to  the 

A-d  the  Viminal,  and  the  other  the 

.iline,  hill.     The  land  thus  included  within 

the  city,  he  divided  among  such  of  the  Romans 

as  had  no  houses;  and  he,  himself,  fixed  his 

habitation  in  the  most  convenient  part  of  the 

Ksquiline  Hill.     This  is  the  last  addition  that 

was  ever  made  to  the  city.     It  now  stood  upon 

i   hills;   every   increase  of  its  dimensions 

having  been  made  after  n'rst  consulting  the 

auspices  as  the  law  directed,  and  performing 

religious  rites. 

Servius  spent  a  large  portion  of  his  time  in 

devising  and  executing  plans  for  the  general 

.  but  he  was  coi.staiitly  annoyed  by  the  in- 


t'2  KINGS  ot    ROM  r  . 


Jealousy  of  Lucius  Tarquinius. 


subordination  of  the  nations  conquered  by  liis 

predecessors.  These  he  punished,  one  alter 
another,  until  they  became  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  his  ability  to  control  them. 

The  earliest  and  worst  fears  of  Serving  now 
hi-gan  to  be  realized.  Lucius  Tarquinius, 
grandson  of  the  late  king,  and  son-in-law  of 
Servius,  became  impatient  for  the  crown,  and, 
-•ated  by  Tullia,  his  wife,  determined  to 
possess  it  at  all  hazards.  Reports  of  their  pro- 
ceedings were  brought  to  the  king,  who,  while 
he  listened  to  them  with  calmness,  was  ill  led 
with  resentment  as  well  as  with  uncertainty  as 
to  the  course  most  advisable  for  him  to  pnj 

Hi-  concluded  to  remonstrate  with  liis  son-in- 
law,  and  to  persuade  him,  if  possible,  to  relin- 
quish a  scheme  which  must  inevitably  end  in 
mi-fortune  and  ruin.  Hut  the  insolent  Tarquin- 
ius charged  his  father-in-law  with  haviin 
privcd  him  of  the  throne,  and  ap|.i-ah'd  to  the 
Senate  to  sustain  his  cause.  Tin-  .  who 

haled   IServius,    were   glad   of  any   thing  that 
might    relievo    them    of    his    • 
They  were,  therefore,  disposed  to  aid  Tarquinius 
in  his  base  design. 

Appealing  to  the  people,  Servius  succeeded, 
with  little  difficulty,  in  silencing  the  Senate, 
and  in  driving  Tarquinius  into  concealment. 


Tr  i.i.  i  i •  <  .  7:1 

His  bold  Attempt  to  possess  the  Throne. 

But   a   favnraMe    ..pportunity    occurring.  Tar- 
quinius,   accompanied    by    a    number    of    his 
friends,  sallied   forth,  determined    to    make    a 
bold  stroke  for  the  kingdom.     Getting  posses- 
sion of  the  axes  of  the  lie-furs,  and  the   : 
I,  ho  placed   the   former  in   the   han«' 
some,  of  his  domestics,  and  arraying  himself  in 
the  latter,  he  proceeded  cautiou-ly  to  the  Forum. 

:ing   the   Senate-hdise,  he   seated    hi: 
iipnii    the    ti.  Mere    tin-  .   having 

assembled,  paid  to  him  all  the  honors  of  his 
'on. 

I,  being  informed  of  what  had  taken 
astened    :  Senate-chamber, 

;ar<ininiiis  seated  upon  the  thr-.i. 
proache<l  him  in  hitter  terms  for  his  conduct. 
Tarquinius,  exulting  in  the  favorable  opportu- 

ed  frmii  hi<  seat,  and  seixing  the  . 
king,  by  the  throat,  dragged  him  t<»  the  >tairs 
which  led  from  the  apartment,  and  threw  him 
1 1  ly  to  the  pavement  below.    The  servants 
\  ins,  outnumbered  by  those  of  Tarqniniu-, 
fled  in  terror,  and  the  old  man,  stunned  by  the 
blow  and  covered  with  blood,  was  obliged  t«» 
rise  without  the  least  assistance,  and  to  proceed 
homeward  undefended. 

While  Servins  was  on  his  way  to  the  palace, 
the  servants  of  Tarquinius,  by  order  of  their 


74:  K   I  N  O  8     O  I-       K  •  •  M 

Murder  of  8erviu»— Cruelty  of  his  Daughter. 

•-ok   liiin,  and  having  barbarously 

slain   him,  left  his  body  in  the  middle  of  the 

N"t  long  after,  his  daughter  Tullia.  the 

wife   of  Tar-iiiiniu^  reached   the   spot   in    lu-r 

chariot.     The  street  being  narrow,  and  the  b«»dy 

of  the  kin«r  lyin.i?  directly  across  it,  her  horses 

d  and  were  arrested  by  the 

driver.     "Why  do  you  stop?"   crii-d   Tullia; 

"drive  on, slave!"     " Look!"  replied  t: 

dead  body  of  your  father  lies  before  us, 
and  there  is  no  passage  except  we  drive  across 
it!"     "Then  di  ive  across  it,  wretch !"( 
the  heartless  woman ;  and  away  went  t 

'••n-akintr  the  bones  and  tearinir 

ate  Servins. 

Tiie  street  in  which  tliis  horrid  scene  oc- 
(•nil*  d.  K  <  i  ived  the  name  of  Vious  Soderatua^ 
th<  iinjnuntt  #tr«t.  AVlien  the  death  of  Servins 
became  generally  known,  a  tumult  ensue- ;. 
Tarquinius  was  obliged  to  conceal  him.-elf  in 
to  >a\e  liis  life. 


riRQUINIUS  SUPERBUS. 

IK"M  M   i»  ;...;   H  c. 


Fears  of  Tarquinius— His  Precautions— His  Cruelty— His 
'l';ir«juiniu.s — Prodigies — Story  of 

Lucrt'tiii     Conduct  «'f  Brutus  ami   liis  ( 'oinpanions  -  ( 
of  annual   Magistrates—  Conspiracy  to  ovri  turn  tin-  lu-puli- 
lic — ConcK-Minsiti'iii  an-1   I>«-;ith  d  tin-  Smis  ..f  I'.iutus— Ef- 
forts of  Tanjuinius  to  n--aiii  tli--  IbraM  -Lars  Poreenna. 


Burrrs  AND  ins  COMPANIONS. 


VII. 

TARQUINIUS  SUPERBUS. 


TARQUIN  KBBUS,  or  Tun  pi  in  th> 

was  thus  named  because  of  the  impeii«>i 
which   lie  assumed    upon   all   occasions,  l»«.th 
public  and  private.     His  reign,  as  may  be 
posed  from  what  has  been  already  related  of 
began  in  fear  and  trembling.    The  divud 
of  poison  and  the  assassin's  dagtr 

•0  much,  that,  for  >»ine  time  after  the  mur- 
der of  Servius,  he  scare.  1  beyond 
sails  of  his  own  dwelling.    By  night  ho 
around  his  palace  a  strong  body  of  choseL 
with  swords  and  spears,  and,  l.y 
day,  ti             ndc-d  him  wherever  he  went. 
Spies  informed  him  of  every  thing  that  trans- 
.irdom,  and  any  one  who 
uttered  a  word  against  him  was  sure  to  be  put 
to  death.     Hundreds  of  persons,  including 
ators  and  the  wealthier  BMI              -ne,  fell  a 
sacrifice  to  his  barbarity ;  and  the  Plebeians, 


80  I\  I  N  G  S     O  F     E  O  M  K  . 

Cruelty  of  Tarquiniua— Mamillus. 

whom  he  disdained  to  kill,  were  tormented  by 
his  unjust  and  cruel  laws.  The  institution 
Servius,  by  which  tliey  were  protected  against 
injury  from  the  Patricians,  were  all  taken  away, 
and  the  taxes  which  he  imposed  upon  them, 
stripped  the  poorer  classes  of  almost  all  their 
possessions. 

Nor  wa<  this  all ;  for,  by  the  power  which  lie 
obtained   throiiirh   bribery   and   threats,  IK-  was 
enabled  to  compel  multitudes  of  the  ] rt-»  la- 
in »r.  merely   for  their   f"«»d,  at   the   build:1 
temples  and  other  public  works,  which  he  un- 
dcrt'-ok  with  -ivat  vip.r.      F«,r  all   these  evils 
seemed  to  be  no  remedy,  f«  »r 
] -leased  to  see  th«-              in   people  op- 
•  -d.  and  the  c«»mmuii  people  were  imt  - 
that    the    Patricians  liad   been   rol  their 

To  make  up  for  his  want  d' 

iirthen  hini-elf  by  fnreitrn  alli- 

dauirliter  in   marria. 

Octavius  Mamilius,  a  man  of  great  power  and 
•A-n  thr.mirh'mt  the  whoh-  Latin  nation,  he 
:\-<l  his  la  :•  with  that  of  the  nn»-t 

considerable  ma^iMrati-.s  in  c\f!-\   city. 

Tanpiinius  was  not  unambitious  of  mil:1 
fame,  nor   was   his   knowledge  of  war  by   any 
means  cuntemptible.     On  the  other  hand,  he 


Sri-  KIM-,  i  81 


Wars  of  Tsrqninia*—  -  Prodigies. 


liuve   equalled,  perhaps  surpassed,  the 
of  his  predecessors,  had  tlie  baseness  and 
wick  T  his  character  been  less  irhirin^. 

os  of  tlie  Volsci  having  refused  t 
alliance  with  him,  he  made  war  upon 
tin-in,  and  t«»ok  by  storm  Suessa  Fomeiia.  from 
which  he  realized  a  very  large  booty. 
II  raring,  soon  after,  that  the  Sabines  1^ 

the  Roman  territory,  he  marched  out 
against  them  and  Miccceded  in  dcstrovinir  their 
entire  army.  But  he  was  less  fortunate  against 
»abians,  who  had  rendered  them>elves  \  ei-y 
odious  to  him  by  giving  protection  to  many  of 
his  enemies,  and  especially  to  the  banished  citi- 
zens of  Rome.  Army  after  army  wa- 

0  purpose.      Finally,  they 
were  conquered  by  means  of  a  stratagem  de- 

•  Idest  son,  Sextus  Tar<iuinius. 

This  Roman  king,  according  to  the  legend, 

was  especially  favored  with  prodigies  of  vari«  »us 

I,  which  had  irreat  inlluencc  upon  the  j.eo- 

ple,  many  of  whom  regarded  them  as  evidences 

of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 

While  Tarquinius  was  engaged  in  beffoging 
Ardea,  a  city  of  the  Kutulians,  a  circumstance 

:rcd  which  roulted,  according  to  the  le- 
gend, in  his  downfall  and  expulsion  from  Rome. 


K  i  N  <;  M    OK     U  <>  M  i. . 


Story  of  Lucretia. 


Sextus,  his  eldest  son,  conceiving  a  strong 
sion  for  Lncretia,  the  wife  of  his  cousin  Col  la 
tinns  Tarquinius,  went  to  her  house,  and  after 
urging  her  to  abandon  her  husband,  forced  her 
to  commit  a  crime  for  which  she  afterwards 
stabbed  herself  dead  in  the  presence  of  her 
father,  and  of  Collatinus,  with  his  friends  Vale- 
rius  and  Brutus.     "Swear,"  she  cried  t«>  them 
with  her  dying  breath,  "that  the  de- 
my peace  shall  not  go  unpunished  !     It  is 
tus  Tarquinius  who  hath  wronged  thee,  O  ('••!- 
latinus,  and  carried  sorrow  into  thy  household  ! 
If  ye  be  men,  swear  that  he  shall  not  < 

Springing  towards  the  body  of  Luci 
ISrutus  snatched  from  the  wound  the  bloody 
knii'e,  and  raising  it  to  his  lips,  exclaimed: 
"By  this  blood  most  chaste  until  injure*  1  by 
n>y;il  in^'lence,  I  swear  and  call  you,  oh  ye 
.  to  witness,  that  I  will  pr  -truc- 

.  by  sword,  lire,  and  every  possible  in 
in  my  power,  both  Lucius  Tanpiinius  the  I 'mini, 
and  his  impi.  r  with  their  entire 

.  and  never  will  suffer  one  of  them,  nor  any 
other  pei-son  whatsoever,  to  be  king  in  E-ome! 
Lay  aside  your  grief,  Collatinus;  kiss  this  sa- 
id swear  as  I  have  sworn  ;  kiss  it, 
Lucretius,  and  you,  too,  Valerius.  The  bl«>..d 
of  Lucretia  shall  piir^e  tin.-  palaces  of  Rome!*' 


TARQCINIUS   SIM-KIM;  rs.  83 

Conduct  of  Brutus  and  his  Companions. 

Taking  the  body  in  their  amis,  they  carried 
it  intu  the  Forum,  followed  by  a  largo  ami  curi- 
ous crowd.  Here  Brutus  told  the  revolting 
.  which  was  caught  up  and  circulated  by  a 
thou>and  tongues  through  every  part  of  Rome. 
Nothing  was  talked  of  but  the  enormities  of  the 
royal  family;  and  the  rage  of  the  people, 
finally,  rose  so  high,  that  they  declared  that 
Tar<|uinii;s  and  hi  >ln»uld  die ;  and  they 

implored   Brutus  to  lead  them  on  against  the 
bloody  tyrants. 

A  little  consultation  among  the  leaders  of  the 
rebellion  resulted  in  a  recommendation  to  the 
people  to  appoint  two  annual  magistrates,  to  be 

1    with    the   kingly   power.      An    el« 
was  held  without  delay,  and  Ilrutus  and  Colla- 
tinus   were   unanimously    chosen.     Thus,  in   a 
short  time,  the  government  of  Rome  was 
entirely  changed. 

AVhile  this  revolution  was  in  progress,  Tar- 
quinius  was  in  his  camp,  at  Ardea.  Hearing 
what  had  happened,  he  set  off,  full  speed,  for 
Rome,  but  was  peremptorily  denied  admission 
and  warned  to  go  away.  Returning  to  his 
camp,  he  there  met  with  a  similar  reception, 
and,  to  save  his  life,  was  forced  to  fly,  in  com- 
pany with  his  sons,  to  Caere,  a  city  of  Ktruriji. 

With  a  view  to  recover  his  power,  Tarquin- 


-  }  K  I  N  O  8     O  F     R  • »  V 

ilMon  of  Tarquinius— The  Sons  of  Brutus. 

ius,  some  time  after,  sent  friends  to  Rome,  un- 
der pretence  of  asking  tlie  Roman  government 
to  restore  the  property  which  he  had  been  com- 
pelled to  leave  behind  him.  These  friend-, 
with  a  view  to  overthrow  the  government, 

••I  in  securing  the  co-operation  of  a  num- 
ber of  influential  men,  and  among  them  the 
two  sons  of  Brutus.     The  conspirators  aim 
(.-•induct  every  thing  with   the  utmost 
but  their  plans  were   di>covercd,  one  night,  by 
a    slave,    and    they    were   con\  <<•:,  d   of   crime 
against  the  FI 

Unit  us,  as  chief  magistrate, 'was  obliged  to 
sit  up.. M  tin-  judgment-rat  to  which  the  con- 
spirators, including  his  own  sons,  were  brought 
l'«»r  trial.  '  v  one  th.  placed  1,. 

him,  and  the  testimony  in 
produced  and  weighed.      AVith  a  linn  VtWC€  he 

need  them  all  to  scourging  and  t<»  «i 
nor  did  he  turn  away  his  eyes  when  the  heads 
of  his  two  sons  were  placed  beneath  the  fatal 

d  at  the  failure  of  his  enterprise,  Tar- 
<|uiniu->  now  went  throughout  all  the  cities  of 
Ktruria,  endeav-.riiig  t<>  urge  them   to  take  up 
arms  against  the   Roman  people.     The  \< 
lian<  and  the  Tar.juinians.  in  answer  to  hi-  , 

.  placed  two  powerful  armies  un- 


TARQUINIUS   SUPERBUS.  85 

Lars  Poreenna. 

der  his  command.      Unit  us  and  his  e*>lK  : 

ii  t«»  meet  him,  and,  after  a  terrible 
eonilk't,  succeeded  once  more  in  delivering 
tlieir  country  ;  but  Brutus  lost  his  lite  upon  the 
battle-field. 

Tarquinius,  though  greatly  discouraged  by  a 
second  failure,  carried  his  complaints  to  Lars 
Poreenna,  king  of  Clusium.  His  arirui 

not    in    vain.     Porsenna   dt-claivd     that 
e  should  have  a  king,  and  tl  kiiiij 

should  be  of  the  Etrurian  race.    M< 
preparations  were  once  more  madt  <  >ver- 

throw  of  the  Roman  Republic;  but  the  m-w 
troubles  into  which  the  nation  was  plunged, 
ami  the  narrative  of  its  contest  with  the  famous 
Porsenna,  belong  more  properly  to  the  second 
part  of  this  hist* 


TART  I. 

QUESTIONS. 

I.— ROMULUS. 

Page  13.   What  Is  said  of  the  legends  of  Rome  ?     For  Nvh.it 

11    H,s  ually  occupied?    Mention some  : 

.said  of  Alba?     What  were  A 1  hi 
and  Lavinium  called  ? 

1".     Fi.'m  whom  diil  Romulus  and  Remus  descend  '     Who 
was  their  111. »t h.-r.'      \\  .t.-d  of  th.-ir  infancy  .'      H«-w 

<li<l  they  act,  on  reaching  manhood?    What  resolution  did 
.,en  take? 

I.    What  is  related  of  their  quarrel?    What  i> 
new  city?    How  did  Romulus  increase  hi*  people?     What 
order  of  nobler  did  he  iii>titute? 

17.  What  st.-ps  did  he  take  to  procure  wives  for  his  peo- 
ple?   Of  what  stratagem  did  hi-,  finally,  make  use? 

18.  What  wen  Its  of  this  act.'     How  \\. 
Sabines  pacified.'     What  was  the  treaty  made  with  tlu-iu  ? 
What  became  of  Tatius?     What  troubles  did  Komulus  ex- 
perience ?    How  did  he  show  his  pride  and  ambition  ? 

19.  In  what  way  did  he  arouse  the  indignation  of  the 
Senate  against  himself  ?    What  became  of  him  ?    What  fol- 
lowed his  disappearance  ? 

IL— NUMA  POM  1 'I  LI  US. 

Page  25.  What  was  the  condition  of  Rome  at  the  death  of 

Iti-Minlus.'     What  irnd.-ivd  bi>  death  inon:  -ri.-vous?    What 
dilncultie.s  were  in  the  way  of  making  a  king? 


88  K  I  N  G  S     O  F     R  O  M  K  . 

lir,.  Who  assumed  the  royal  prerogative?  How  was  the 
Senate  composed?  How  did  they  administer  the  govern- 
ment? What  was  this  interval  called?  Who  was  limilly 
chosen  king  ?  What  is  said  of  Numa  ? 

27.  How  did  he  gain  the  confidence  of  the  people  ?  What 
temple  did  he  build  ?  What  is  said  of  this  temple  f 

\Vhut  belief  was  entertained  in  regard  to  Numa 
What  was  the  religion  of  the  Romans?     What  order  of 
priests  did  Numa  institute? 

li'.i.   Why  were  they  called  Salii?    What  was  their  num- 
ber?   How  did  Numa  preserve  peace?     What  did  he  culti- 
vate and  teach  among  the  people?     How  did  they  i 
him  ?     What  division  was  made  of  the  lands? 

30.  How  was  the  country  divided  ?  How  did  Numa  pro- 
mote industry  .'  How  did  he  unite  more  thoroughly  the 
people  ?  Wliieh  of  his  works  is  here  spoken  of.'  At  what 
age  did  he  die? 

:;l.  ll»v,  \\,  .•  the  people  affected  by  his  death  .'  What  is 
said  of  his  funeral  ? 

1 1 1 .— TULLUS  HOSTILI I  s. 

Page  37.  What  happened  soon  after  the  death  of  Numa? 
Wh..  |  .1  king.'  What  was  the  first  n<  t  of  Tul- 

38.  How  «liil  he  provide  for  those  who  were  drstii 
lands.'      I'rom  what  grew  the  principal  events  uf  his  i 
What   is  said  of  the  Alban  king.'     Who  Succeeded  him? 
How  did  Tullus  proceed? 

89.  What  did  Mettius  then  do?    What  :it  did 

they  make?    Who  were  the  champions  selected  to  d 
the  destinies  of  Rome  and  Alba? 

40.  How  did  the  combat  begin?    Relate  what  followed. 

41.  What  did  Horatius  do  on  returning  to  Rome  ?     What 
lu-camr  of  Mettius  {     What  wars  followed  this  e- 

•I'J.    What   calamity  ensued.'     What    i>   stid    of    th 
H.'W  did  hi.->  death  o 


•8  T  1  0  V  •  ,  89 


IV.-_A\«TS 

Page  IV    Fm    what  was  A  \vh;it 

was  Li-  ils  h;ul 

:_'u  of  Tuli  ||  U-Ljin  his 

:ms  .!i,l  he  make?     \  til  tied  had 

•li.lheW.    ...  \Vh;it 

was  the  con.lu.  -t  of  the  Latins  ?    What  wa.*  ooeed- 

ing  against  them  ? 

47.  '•  1  he  conquer?    What  did  the  Latins 
now  do?    How  did  he,  finally,  dispose  of  them?    H 

he  enlarge  Rome. 

48.  What  i-iiMi,-  improvem.-nts  did  he  make?    How  did 
he  restrain  evil-doers  P    How  did  he  test! 

the  gods?    How  long  did  he  reign  P     Wi 

ll.Mth' 

49.  What  title  was  bestowed  upon  him  ? 

V.—  T  Ai;<  >l  INITJS  PRISCUS. 

Page  55.  Who  was  Tarquiniiw  Priscus  P    What  story  is 
told  concerning  his  advent  to  Borne  ? 

56.  What  attentions  did  he  receive  P    On  l.i-ii,^   nmilc 
i...w  di.l  he  strengthen  his  position  P    \N  i 

1  1    What  was  his  first  achievement  ! 
How  did  he  commemorate  it  ? 

57.  What  was  his  success  against  his  jealous  neighbors  P 
What  did  he  do  for  the  greater  safety 

he  wish  to  improve  the  armyP    Whom  did  he  consult  in 
thhsni.v 

58.  What  story  is  related  of  NaviusP    HowdidTarquinins 
now  act?    What  nations  did  he  prepare  to  attack  P 
success  had  he  against  the  Sabines  P 

l;it«-.l  of  his  war  with  th.-  T\  i  rl.'-niansP 
60.  In  what  way  did  he  now  employ  him-.  -It  '     \\  luit  is 
sii.l  of  hw  sewers,  or  doaeaet    What  cf  th-    jaN.-.I  ways? 


90  K  I  N  G  S     <  >  I-  •     I J  <  •  M  E  . 

To  whom  did  Tarquinius  now  commit  the  cares  of  govern- 
ment? 

61.  How  did  the  sons  of  Ancus  Marcius  show  their  vexa- 
tion ?  How  did  they  accomplish  the  king's  death?  \Yh;il 
did  Tanaquil  do  upon  the  occasion  ?  What  appeal  did  she 
make  to  Ser.vius  ? 

t',±  What  stratagem  did  they  adopt?  What  was  their 
success  ? 

VI.— SERVIUS  TULLIUS. 

Page  67.  What  is  said  of  the  origin  and  youth  of  Servius 
Tu  11  MS.'  What  course  did  he  pursue  after  placing  himself 
upon  the  throne? 

68.  In  whoso  name  did  he  assume  the  government? 
What  \\crc  the  feelings  of  the  Senate?  What  means  did 
Servius  adopt  to  retain  his  power  ? 

What  did  he  do  for  insolvent  debtors  and  those  who 
had  no  lands!1  In  what  way  did  he  appeal  to  the  peo- 
ple? 

70.  What  demand  did  they  make  ?     What  was  the  result 
of  the  election?     How  did  he  dispose  of  the  grand>onx  ,,i 
TarqniniMs?    What  is  said  of  the  wars  of  Servius ?     What 
of  his  public  works? 

71.  How  did  he  divide  the  citizens?     What  additions  did 
he  make  to  the  city?    How  did  Servius  spend  much  of  his 
time? 

72.  What  difficulty  did  he  experience  with  his  son-in-law  ? 
What  was  the  result  of  his  remonstrance  with  him  ?     How 
did  the  Senate  act? 

73.  How  did  Tarquinius  get  possession  of  the  throne? 
What  did  Servius  then  do?    What  treatment  did  he  receive 
from  Tarquinius? 

74.  How  was  his  death  accomplished?     What  was  the 
eondiict  of  his  daughter  ?     What  name  was  given  to  the 

iu  which  this  scene  occurred? 


QUESTIONS.  :»1 

VII.— TAKQl'lNIUS  SUPERBUS. 

Pay  79.  How  did  Tarquinius  Superbus  receive  his  nadfof 
How  did  he  begin  his  reign  ?  What  care  did  he  take  to  pre- 
serve his  life  f  Of  what  cruel  acts  was  he  guilty  f 

80.  How  did  he  treat  the  poor?    Why  wen  n..t  the  evils 
remedied  ?    What  foreign  alliance  did  he  contract  f    What 
to  said  of  his  military  knowledge  T 

81.  What  ware  did  he  carry  on  ?    What  Is  said  of  the  pro- 
digies with  which  he  was  favored? 

uinstance  led  to  his  downfall  f    What  is  re- 
lated of  Brutus  ? 

88.  How  were  the  people  affected  by  the  fate  of  Lucretia  ? 
What  was  the  result  of  the  rebellion  f  How  did  Tarquitaus 
proceed,  and  how  was  he  treated  f 

84.  How  did  he  try  to  recover  his  power  ?    What  is  related 
of  the  conspiracy  ?    How  did  Brutus  act  in  this  case  f    W hat 
further  means  did  Tarquinius  adopt  to  recover  the  kim. 

85.  What  was  the  fate  of  Brutus  ?    What  is  related  of 
Lars  Porsenna  f 


THE  absorbing  narratives  which  make  up  the  his- 
tory of  the  Republic  of  Rome,  are  rendered  none  the 
leas  instructive  to  the  general  reader,  and  certainly 

the  less  essential  to  the  student,  by  reason  of  the 
abundant  :u  iiu-ness  evinced  by  Beaufort  and   Ni.-huhr 

proving  the  testimonies  of  Livy  and  Dionysius.  In- 
deed, a  very  good  knowledge  of  the  narratives  here  col- 

i  is  necessary,  in  ord-  leasure  or  profit 

•  -e  derived  from  the  writings  of  these  modern  his- 
torians.    \\ '!,:!«•  much  of  this  period  of  Roman  1 
is  undoubtedly  fabulous,  real  characters  begin  to  make 

appearance,  and  the  early  struggles  between  Lib- 

nd  Despotism  evince  an  origin  antect< 

ters   of  anti.juity   who   have   recorded 
th.  in.     They  are  always  read  and  studied  with  the 

-t  interest,  and  so,  too,  are  those  exhibitions  of 
the  love  of  authority,  and   thirst   of  military  glory, 
•.\iivh,  taking  the  place  of  the -stern  Roman  v 
drained  the  plains  of  Italy  of  its  noble  inhabitants,  and 
to  die  in  distant  lands,  whil<-  th» -ir  ambi- 
tious  leaders,  making  conquest  after  conquest,  sul 
Sj.ain,  Carthage,  Greece,  Egypt,  Asia,  and,  at  length, 
inul.T  Julius  Cjesar.  Rome  itself. 


nu  nt. 


I. — TOE  WA*   WITH    POKBENXA 15 

II. — THE  WA*  WITH  TH*  LATINS 41 

III.— THE  PATRICIANS  AND  PLEBEIANS 

I  V.— THX  TRIBUNES  of  TH*  PEOPLE 87 

V  — TlUR  DECEMTOa  ...                                                    121 

VI — DESTRUCTION  or  ROME  BT  TBS  OAULA 149 

VII.— FOREIGX  CONQUESTS 173 

VIIL— THE  JuGURTniNE  WA»  ...                 197 

IX.— MARIUS  AND  SYLLA  .                   281 

— CITIL  WARS  AJCD  CONSPIRACIES 253 

• 

XL— JCLIUB  CJHAE..                                                  .  286 


Illustrations. 


MM 

FEAT  or  UOKATIUS  COCXJEB Frontitpttef. 

CORIOLANCS   AND   HIS   MoTUXB 86 

DEATH  or  VIBOIMA 

CAPTURE  or  CAIUS  MABJUS 

AMAJMDTATIOV  or  JULIUS  CJMAR 


TIIK  WAR  WITH  PORSENNA. 

FROM   407    TO   60S    B.  C. 


THINGS  related  in  the  Stories  of  "  The  Kings  of  Rome" 
— The   consul  Publius  Valerius — Unjust   Suspicions 

t  him — His  Refutation  of  them — Anecdote  of  Hora- 

tius  Pulvillus — King  Tarquinius  appeals  to  Por.-enim.  king 

of  Clusium — Porsenna  prepares  to  MM'..-  \Y;ir  iijion  Rome — 

a.ks   Rome — Horatius  Codes — His   Defence   of   the 

Jfri'l^e  across  the  Til>er — The  Honor  paid  to  him  —  !'<>: 

«-s  Rome — The  Story  of  Caiua  Mucius — The  Story  of 
Clcelia, 


FEAT  "OF   HOEATIUS   COCLES. 


THE  WAR  WITH  PORSENNA. 


THE  Koman  Eepublic  may  be  said  to  have 
commenced  upon  the  day  when  Brutus  and 
Collatinus  were  elected  consuls.  Tarquinius 
Superbus  was  at  this  time  king  of  Rome ;  and 
at  the  very  moment  when  the  revolution  took 
place,  he  and  his  immense  army  were  encamped 
before  the  walls  of  Ardea,  endeavoring  to 
bring  that  strong  city  in  subjection  to  Rome. 
To  be  completely  stripped  of  his  power  at  home, 
and  to  be  shamefully  and  helplessly  driven 
fruni  the  mid-r  of  his  troops,  was  an  event  of 
which  neither  he  nor  his  subjects  had  dreamed 
two  clays  before  its  occurrence.  Still  it  is  not 
a  matter  which  should  occasion  surprise,  for 
Tarquinius  was  a  detested  tyrant,  whom  the 
people,  under  a  resolute  leader,  were  at  any 
moment  ready  to  crush. 

This  leader  was  Brutus ;    and  the   Roman 


16  REPUBLIC    OF    ROME. 

Things  related  in  the  Stories  of  the  Kings  of  Home. 

people  vested  him  and  his  colleague,  Collati- 
nus,  with  the  government  of  the  city.  The  ar- 
my was  withdrawn  from  the  walls  of  Ardea. 
Joy  took  the  place  of  the  murmuring  and  dis- 
content which  had  prevailed  throughout  the 
city.  The  excellent  laws  which  had  been  es- 
tablished by  King  Servius,  and  abolished  by 
Tarquinius,  were  now  restored.  The  people 
again  exercised  the  rights  of  freemen ;  and 
peace  and  prosperity  seemed  to  be  the  destiny 
of  Rome. 

But  Tarquinius  was  still  alive.     The  en 
Cumre  had  opened  its  gates  to  receive  him  ;  and 
.  mortified  and  em-aired.  IK-  -pent  his  time 
in  devising  means  tor  tin.-  rec«»\vry  <»f  his  throne. 

Kirst  he  resorted  to  stratagem ;  hut  h 

])lislic(l  imtliin^  exe.-pt  the  sacrifice  of  the 
of  IJrutus  ami  the  destruction  of  all  the  friends 
whom    lie   ^till    ]»»s>c>si-<l    in    Koine.     Then   ho 
appealed  to  the  \\-ieiitians  and  Tarquinia 
aid  him  in  his  de>itirn.     Here  a.Lrain  he  failed, 
him>elf  and   allies  being  driven  in   terror  fmiu 
the  battle-field,  while  the  Roman  army,  laden 
with  spoil-,  went  home  in  triumph. 

Not  lon^  before  this  last-mentioned  event, 
Collatings,  the  colleague  of  Brutus,  had  been 
obliged  to  resign  the  consulship  and  leave 
Rome,  simply  because  he  bore  the  hated  name 


WITH      POBI  17 


The  consul  Publlns  Valerius. 


of  Lucius  Turquinius.  Publius  Valerius  was 
appointed  in  I  ilrutu< 

too,  having  been  the  lirst  tu  >hed  his  blond  in 
the  cause  of  the  Republic.  All  tlie-e  things 
have  been  related  in  the,  stories  of  Tin;  K 

o  loss  of  Brutus  was  a  grievous  thin_ 
the  Eoman  people.     He  had  donemme  than 
anv  .  !•  the  accompli-1 

freedom.     He  was,  in  fact,  regarded  as 

deliver,  •;•.       He    !  I"  bo 

t.lain  v  had   <  •    the 

.d   in   him   ti.  they   e.-uld   j.lact^ 

the  i.  di-atll  lilletl  them 

with  app.  iway  im- 

i  with  >i 

ie  the  prey  to  a  t 

d  than  that  fr«»ni  \\  i  had  justes- 

:i  the  cmi-iil   I'lihlius  became  an 

lousy  and  suspicion,  because  he 

did  n«»t   :  ;cy  occa- 

d   by  tli-  \n>  lilled.      It 

M.ut   that  he  to  rule  a 

in  order  that  he  iniirht  i\mi\-  ea-ily  make  him- 
self kinir  of  Ron.''.  M  Why  d-.e-,  he  choose 
Mount  Yelia  for  his  residence?"  asked  one. 
••lie  has  grown  proud  and  wMi«--  t«»  place 
e  the  common  people,"  was  the 


18  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

The  consul  Publius  Valerius. 

reply  of  some.  "  He  desires  to  be  king,  and 
means  to  build  an  impregnable  fortress,"  said 
others. 

Though  these  remarks  and  suspicions  were 
not  accompanied  by  threats,  or  violent  demon- 
strations, yet  they  had  great  effect  upon  the 
consul  Publius.  He  heard  them  indeed  with 
indignation,  for  it  was  far  from  his  intention  to 
usurp  authority  greater  than  he  already  pos- 
sessed. Still  he  resolved  to  dispel  the  fi-aix 
entertained  concerning  him,  and  therefore  is- 
sued a  proclamation  for  the  people  to  meet 
him  in  a  public  assembly.  When  they  were 
all  convened,  he  went  into  their  midst,  and  or- 
dering the  fasces  to  be  lowered,  mounted  the 
tribunal  to  speak  to  them.  This  proceeding 
was  highly  grateful  to  the  people,  for  by  low- 
ering the  fasces  he  acknowledged  their  sover- 
eignty. "Romans,"  said  he,  "how  excellent 
the  fortune  of  my  colleague,  who,  after 
having  accomplished  the  deliverance  of  his 
country,  and  after  having  been  raised  to  the 
highest  post-  of  honor,  It'll  dying  in  defence  of 
the  republic  !  When  his  glory  was  in  its  per- 
fection he  departed  ;  before  the  glance  of  sus- 
picion had  been  directed  towards  him,  before 
the  tongue  of  jealousy  had  wounded  him.  But 
I,  surviving  the  glory  which  I  have  won.  have 


WAR   WITH   PORSEXXA.  19 


The  consul  Publius  Valerius. 


at  last  l>ec<>ine  the  object  of  calumny,  and, 
from  the  character  of  deliverer  of  my  country, 
I  am  sunk  to  the  level  of  those  who  would  have 

,\vd  it.  AVill  no  degree  of  merit,  then, 
ever  gain  your  confidence,  so  far  as  to  be  se- 
cure from  the  attacks  of  suspicion  ?  Could  I 
have  the  least  apprehension  that  I.  the  bitterest 
enemy  to  kings,  should  undergo  the  charge  of 
aiming  at  kingly  power?  Supj> 
dwelt  in  the  very  citadel,  and  in  the  capitol, 
could  I  believe  that  1  was  an  object  of  t< 
to  my  countrymen  ?  Doeimy  reputation  am»n^ 
you  depend  on  so  mere  a  trifle?  Is  my  title 
to  your  confidence  so  slightly  founded  that  it 

»re  to  be  considered  where  I  am,  than 
what  I  am?  Citizens,  the  h<ui<e  of  Publius 
Yah-riu<  shall  be  no  obstruction  to  your  free- 
dom :  the  Velian  Mount  shall  be  secure  to  you. 
I  will  not  only  bring  down  my  house  to  the 
plain,  but  will  iix  it  under  the  hill,  that  your 
dwellings  may  overlook  that  of  your  suspected 
countryman.  Let  those  build  on  the  Velian 
^M«>unt  to  whom  you  can  better  intrust  your 
liberty  than  to  Publius  Vale: 

These  few  words  were  sutlicient  to  convince 
the  people  that  their  suspicions  were  unfound- 
ed. They  served  also  to  remind  them  that  Va- 
lerius was  the  coadjutor  of  Brutus  and  Collati- 


20  KEPUBLIC   OF   EOME. 

The  consul  Publius  Valerius. 

nus  in  expelling  the  tyrant  who  had  so  long 
oppressed  them.  Shame  therefore  took  pos- 
session of  them,  and  they  separated  for  their 
respective  homes,  leaving  Valerius  to  enjoy  the 
satisfaction  of  having  triumphed  over  their  sus- 
picions. 

Faithful  to  his  promise,  he  immediately 
caused  the  workmen  who  were  engaged  upon 
his  palace  to  remove  the  stones  and  timbers 
from  the  top  of  the  mount  to  the  vale  below. 
Here  he  erected  a  modest  mansion,  and  laying 
aside  every  thing  which  was  calculated  to  ex- 
cite envy  or  jealousy,  applied  himself  to  the 
administration  of  his  office.  The  excellent  laws 
which  he  proposed,  and  his  manifest  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  the  people,  soon  secured  the 
confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens ;  and  he  even 
became  so  popular  that  the  surname  of  Publi- 
cola  was  bestowed  upon  him. 

In  a  short  time  Spurius  Lucretius  was  elected 
consul  in  the  pla'ce  of  Brutus ;  but  being  far 
advanced  in  years,  he  died  in  a  few  days  after 
his  election.  Marcus  Horatius  Pulvillus  was 
placed  in  his  stead.  _Of  him  nothing  remark- 
able is  related,  except  that  on  one  occasion  he 
showed  a  good  deal  of  self-possession.  It  seems 
that  the  temple  of  Jupiter,  though  some  time 
completed,  had  never  been  dedicated.  The 


W  A  R     W  I  T  H     P  O  R  S  K  X  N  A  .  21 


Anecdote  of  Horatius  Fulvillus. 


honor  of  performing  tin-  -  on  Mich 

an  occasion  beini:  very  considerable,  the  t-\\o 

consuls,  Publius  and  lioratius,  east  l"ts  tor  the 
office.  The  lot  fell  to  ll<>ratiu>.  This 

1  displeasure  to  the  friends  of  Puhlius,  who 
•avoivd  in  every  way  to  delay  and  prevent 
the 'ceremonies.      Their   elfor 
iiM-K-s.     The  day  was  appointed,  and  all  the 
preparat:  oeca-ioii    ]>i'M].erly    made. 

A  great  multitude  assembled  around  the  tem- 
ple, and  Horatius  hciran  by  perl'..rmin^  tl.< 
rifices  and  other  preliminai  it--.      Having  liniVh- 
ed  these,  he  laid  hold  of  the  do..r-po-ts.  while  all 

-  in  a  moi  revi-i-ential 

re   to   listen    to   his    pronunciation  ,,f  the 
•r  of  consecration.    Just  as  he  had 
:id  was  about  calling  upon  the 
name  of  Jupiter,  the   brother  of  1'ublius,  who 
had  watched  the  opportunity,  ru>:  ieiily 

before  him,  and  exclaimed  in  an  excited  man- 
mer  :  ••  Horatius,  your  son  has  just  died/'  Ho- 
ratius, lowering  I/  ;i'id  looking  for  a  mo- 
meut  at  the  messenger,  calmly  replied,  -  Let 
him  then  be  buried."  He  then  proceeded 
•with  his  prayer,  completed  the  dedication,  and 
caused  his  name  to  be  placed  upon  the  front  of 
the  temple. 

For  a  brief  period,  the  affairs  <>f  the  Kouian 


22  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

King  Tarquinius  appeals  to  Lars  Porsenna. 

Republic  seemed  prosperous  enough.  Abroad 
their  arms  had  been  triumphant  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  consuls ;  at  home  the  resolution 
of  the  people  to  maintain  republican  principles 
had  intimidated  the  ambitious,  and  forced  the 
proud  Patricians  to  show  a  degree  of  kindness 
and  justice  which  they  had  never  before  ex- 
hibited. The  Senate  carried  their  generosity 
so  far  as  to  tax  themselves  much  more  than  the 
other  citizens,  and  even  took  pains  to  furnish 
provisions  to  the  poorer  classes  at  a  much  low- 
er price  than  they  had  been  accustomed  to 
pay.  But  in  all  this  they  were  actuated  by 
fears  for  their  own  safety ;  for  enemies  to  the 
Republic  were  now  springing  up  on  every 
hand,  and  it  behooved  those  who  had  every 
thing  at  stake  to  exercise  prudence,  and  even 
to  make  some  sacrifices.  King  Tarquinius, 
though  constantly  baffled  in  his  undertakings, 
was  still  determined  to  recover,  if  possible,  his 
throne.  In  connection  with  the  defeated  Ye- 
ientians  and  Tarquinians,  he  made  a  strong 
appeal  to  Lars  Porsenna,  the  powerful  king 
of  Clusium.  He*  laid  before  him  his  own 
wrongs ;  spoke  of  the  indignities  which,  through 
him,  had  been  offered  to  kings,  and  urged 
Porsenna  to  revenge  the  common  cause  of 
royalty. 


AV  A  R     W  I  T  II     P  O  R  S  K  X  N  A  .  23 

Porsenna  prepares  to  make  War  upon  Home. 

Porseiina.  willing  to  add  to  the  gl.>ry  which 
he  had  already  acquired,  readily  took  up  tlie 
quarrel  of  Tarquinius.  and  forthwith  made  the 
active  preparation  t«>  march  a  powerful 
army  against  K"me.  He  knew  full  well  that 
it  was  no  ordinary  war  in  which  he  would  have 
to  engage.  The  num  d  brilliant  victo- 

achieved  by  K"man  amis  were  well  known 
to  him  ;  and  he  did  not  forget,  moreover,  that 
in  defence  of  their  li  <-y  would  exhibit 

a  degree  of  valor  which  a  contest  lor  dominion 
or  spoils  would  not  call  forth. 

Th-  M.sofPor  re  tlu-refore 

made  with   the   utnio>t  care.     His  own  c: 
Clusiuni  furnishe<l  an  army  Millicient  to  cope 
with   an  ordinary  foe;  hut  he  wa<  not  satisfied 
with  this.      M  --were   di-patelu-d   to  all 

tlie  cities  of  Ktruria,  with  invitations  to  join 
liim   in  cni>liing  the  common   i-m-mv  of  Italy. 
Latin  ci:  ,''-d  to  furnish  all 

the  aid  which  th-  ;d,  and,  from  all 

direc:  >ops  flocked  dailv  around  his  stan- 

dard. 

Intelligence  of  these  vigorous  proceedings 
wa-  not  IMIIM-  in  reaching   Home.     The  Senate 
received  it  with  terror;    and  the  people,  de- 
spairing of  being  able  to  resist  such  a  host  c 
enemies,  were  alni">t    ready  to  yield   the  city 


24  KEPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Porsenna  attacks  Koine. 

without  a  blow.  The  news  was  carried,  too, 
to  the  seaport  of  Ostia  and  spread  among  the 
shepherds  and  husbandmen  all  around  the  city, 
and  so  great  was  the  fear  that  took  possession 
of  those  who  heard  it,  that  a  general  flight  took 
place  among  them.  The  walls  of  Rome  seemed 
to  afford  the  only  safeguard  against  their  innu- 
merable foes.  Thither  they  fled  in  multitudes : 
the  aged  and  the  young.  Thither  they  drove 
their  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats,  their  horses 
and  mules  and  cattle ;  and  thither,  from  every 
farm-house  and  hamlet,  went  long  trains  of 
wagons  loaded  with  grain  and  wine  and  house- 
hold goods,  so  that  every  gate  of  Rome  was 
fairly  choked  with  those  who  sought  refuge 
from  the  invading  foe. 

Nor  were  the  apprehensions  of  these  fugi- 
tives without  foundation ;  for  scarcely  had  they 
found  security  within  the  walls,  than,  looking 
behind  them,  they  beheld  the  smoke  and 
flames  of  their  abandoned  dwellings,  and  knew, 
by  the  clouds  of  dust  that  filled  the  sky,  that 
their  foes  were  pushing  forward,  resolved  upon 
the  total  destruction. of  their  State. 

Onward  they  came,  trampling  down  and 
covering  every  field  and  vineyard  within  sight 
of  Rome,  and  speedily  reaching  the  high  wall 
that  surrounded  the  Janiculum,  boldly  and  vig- 


\Y  AR     WITH      I'.MJS  K\  \   \  . 


Valerius  ami  tin-  Unman  H 


plied  their  batter.'  .st  its  ponder- 

ous -  rk. 

It  was  a  dreadful  moment   for  the  Roman 

le  ;  and  the  v  -iek  at  In-art,  an<; 

tain  that  their  power  was  at  an  end.  knew  not 
what  to  do.     They  nu-t  ;   but  it  seemed   n 
for  the  purpose  of  bearing  ea<  Company 

in  the  d.  they  hourly  awaited, 

iiad  any  plan  ot  a  to  pro} 

M,  f«»r  the 

walls  were  alrea<i  ::h  the  1 

of  h-  :i«»uts  of  triiunph, 

!'  the  Janieubint 
acro>-  terv»-ninir  T'  :ietrated    into 

citadel. 

:ore,"  shouted  the  consul  Valerius,  as 
,-hrd  into  the  mi<Ut  of  the  terrified  a 

%>  why   >tand   ye  here  idle  and  craven- 
ted  '.      Alrea<i\    t:  :ihnn 

:'allin^   Itefon-  the   batteries  of  Poreenna  ! 
Once  ujM.n   it-  h.  y  have  mil;. 

bridge  and  Kome  \\  ill  1 
Hasten,  Senators!    Let  us  meet  them  at. 
the  Km-:  ;iid  be  the   first  to  block   its 

passage  by  our  i 

Forth  went  Valerius,  and  forth,  too,  went  the 

an    Senate   with    all    speed  \    the 

bridge  which,  crossing  the  Tiber,  united  the 


26  HE  PUBLIC   OF    HOME. 

Horatius  Codes. 

Janiculum  to  the  more  densely  inhabited  por- 
tions of  the  city.  Here  they  arrived  just  as  the 
enemy  began,  one  by  one,  to  leap  through  the 
breaches  made  in  the  wall  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river.  "The  bridge  must  be  broken 
down,"  shouted  Valerius ;  "  there  is  no  other 
hope  for  Rome !  Bring  axes,  my  brave  Hora- 
tius," he  continued,  addressing  the  captain  of 
the  gate, — "bring  axes ;  hew  down  the  bridge." 

"Thou  art  right,  Valerius,"  replied  Horatius 
Codes;  "the  bridge  must  be  lu-wn  down,  but 
let  this  be  thy  task,  while  I,  with  two  others, 
cross  to  the  further  side  and  defend  the  passage 
till  your  work  is  done.  Who  dare  follow  me?" 
shouted  Codes.  "If  none,  then  I  will  meet 
alone  the  hosts  of  Porsenna."  Saying  which 
he  sprang,  sword  in  hand,  upon  the  bridge, 
and  ran  towards  the  other  end,  which  the  en- 
emy were  now  approaching.  Behind  ran  also 
two  brave  Romans  who  had  l>een  inspired,  by 
his  words  ;  ami  no  sooner  had  the  three  reached 
the  middle  of  the  bridge  than  the  consuls,  the 
senators,  and  the  people  all  began  with 
and  bars  to  tear  it  down. 

"Vile  slaves,"  shouted  Codes  to  the  fore- 
most of  the  approaching  host,  "why  do  you 
not  seek  to  secure  your  own  liberty  rather  than 
to  wrest  it  from  those  who  have  had  the  courage 


\V  A  i:    w  i  i  H     r  27 

Bridge  across  the  Ti 

in  it  ?     By  the  « ••  .  i   nut 

pass  I  until   I   hii\v  1  it  with 

At  these  words  a  loud  peal  of  1;  rose 

from  the  troops,  who,  n<  »w,  K-apin;:  by  thousands 
tlm »u«rh  the  broki  ^  towards 

the  river.    The  next  moment  a  cloud  of  ai 
showered  down  upon  Cocles  and  his  brave 
companions;   but  ess  upon  the 

lers  and   heavy  armor  which  they  wore. 

i  the  stoutest  and  bravest  warriors  from 
the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  eager  for  glory  and 
confident  of  success,  ran  with  spears  and  axes 
to  win  the  narrow  pass;  but  Cocles  and  his 
companions  stood  like  rocks  before  them,  and, 
one  by  one,  the  greatest  champions  of  Yeii,  of 

11  lifeless  at  • 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Romans  on  the  <•• 

vigorously  with 

axes,  cut  away,  one  after  ano  timbers 

which  supported  the  bridge.  The  last  prop 
was  all  that  now  remained ;  Valerius,  seeing 
that  the  structure  would  soon  fall,  called  out, 
"Come  back,  Horatius  Cocles;  come  back, 
brave  Romans ;  the  bridge  is }  ^  enough 

to  hold  you ;  come  back,  before  it  is  too  late." 
The  companions  of  Cocles  at  once  obeyed  the 


BE  PUBLIC   or 


Codes'  Defence  of  the  Britlse  acr<»s  tho  Tiber. 

Biimmons,  but  that  fierce  Roman,  being  en- 
gaged in  a  desperate  conflict  with  a  stalworth 
Yeientian,  paid  no  attention  to  the  call.  Again 
Valerius  shouted  to  him,  but  the  words  had 
hardly  escaped  his  lips,  when  the  bridge  fell, 
with  a  mighty  crash,  into  the  waters  of  the  yel- 
low Tiber. 

A  scream  of  rage  now  burst  forth  from  the 
disappointed  hosts  of  Porsenna,  and  a  thousand 
arrows  were  directed  against  the  body  of  the 
brave  Codes.  Protecting  himself  by  his  broad 
buckler,  and  succeeding,  too,  in  cleaving  to  the 
earth  the  enemy  with  whom  he  was  engaged, 
lie  sprang  into  the  Tiber.  "Holy  father  Tibe- 
rin-.  I  be-eeeh  thee  to  receive  the-e  anus,  and 
this  thy  soldier,  into  thy  propitious  stream/' 
said  the  courageous  man,  as  he  leaped  from  the 
banks  of  the'  river. 

Down   went  Codes  loaded   with  his  heavy 
armor,  and  the  deep  waters  dosod  above  him. 
His  friends  <>n  the  one  side  and  his  foes  on  the 
other,  all  ga/ed  in  solemn  silence  at  the  spot  in 
which  he  sank.     His  valor  and  his  intrepidity 
had   excited  the  admiration  of  his  enem;< 
well  as  of  his  friends,  and  sorrow  lor  the  possible 
Lott  of  so  brave  a  man  seemed  to  pervade  6 
breast.     "While  they  were  still  gazing  upon  the 
ruffled  stream,  a  black  helmet  rose  above  the 


V-'  I  \A.  29 

Tli 

•i  hand-  i 

.     A. 

and  even   l'«>rsenna  himself,  nnal- 

.  •• 
man   and    boar   liii;: 

1  the  we 

ntly,  too, 

did  he  I'M  rev  I  -rent, 

'•nmln-Miis  mail  in 
A  hui 

1   the 
floOfl 

-d  lie  went  alon, 
' 
As  he  wal!  ,  up  tlio  river  1- 

OIB,  ami  the  ]•(•«.; 
;ind    him,    and    t'airl;  i    him    in 

with 
crowns   <>f   \  y  ^ave    him    the 

ithout  t! 
liim  - 

duri'  :   ire4  win'.- 

liiui  CMI-II  and  wine,  and  daily  loaded  his  table 
and  his  store  ith  every  tiling  that  the 


30  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Porsenna  besieges  Rome. 

market  produced ;  and  besides  all  this,  they 
commemorated  his  bold  achievement  by  a  bra- 
zen statue  which  they  erected  in  the  Comitium. 

Notwithstanding  the  admiration  which  Por- 
senna felt  for  his  foes,  he  w^as  still  determined 
to  accomplish  their  destruction.  Failing  in  his 
meditated  attack  upon  the  city,  he  resolved  to 
besiege  it,  and  force  the  inhabitants  to  yield,  if 
possible,  by  destroying  the  fields  and  hamlets 
which  lay  around  it,  and  by  plundering  and 
slaying  all  who  unfortunately  fell  in  his  way. 
The  Romans  did  not  quietly  submit  to  all  this. 
Whenever  an  opportunity  occurred,  they  sent 
bands  of  soldiers  privately  from  the  city,  who 
would  frequently  cut  off  hundreds  of  their 
enemies,  with  very  little  injury  to  themselves. 
Stratagems  of  every  kind  wrere  resorted  to  by 
them,  and  Porsenna,  finding  upon  one  occasion 
that  he  had  lost  more  than  five  thousand  of  his 
best  troops,  resolved  to  surround  the  city  with 
his  vast  army,  and,  by  cutting  off  all  supplies 
of  provisions,  finally  starve  the  people  into  sub- 
jection. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  citizens  began  to 
suffer  extremely  from  this  blockade.  They 
had,  fortunately,  an  unusual  quantity  of  food, 
but  every  day  it  was  diminishing  with  great 
rapidity,  and  starvation  or  slavery  seemed  in- 


W  A  R     W  I  T  II      1'  .  V  A  .  31 

The  Story  of  Caius  ^Iiu-ius. 

evitable.  In  this  strait,  Koine  presented  an- 
other evidence  of  the  boldness  and  patriotism 
of  her  citizens. 

Three  Inmdivd  young  men  of  illustrious  birth, 
'•mining  that  they  would  rather  die  than 
see  Home  subjected  to  a  foreign  yoke,  bound 
tlieinselves  by  tlie  most  solemn  oatlis  that  they 
would  fi-i  -s  from  Porsenna  or  Bi 

death  in  the  attempt.     In  accordance  with  a 
i-ted  plan,  one  of  them,  named  Cains 
Mucius  appeared   one  day  bef«>re  the  Senate 
and   demanded   j  a  to   leave  the  city, 

saving    at   the   same   time    that   he   i 
something  of  great  importance  to  the  common- 
weal; h,  and  that  he  was  willing  to  risk  his  life 
in  the  undertaki:  -ion  was  granted, 

and  he  found  the  v  nn- 

(  by  the  enemy. 

In-ing  well  acquainted  with  their  language, 
he  had  no  difficulty  in  mingling  with  the  sol- 
diers and  pas-ing  himself  off  a-  one  of  their 
number.  AYandering  about  the  camp,  he  final- 
ly d!  ;  the  king'-  tent;  and  oldening 
that  many  persons  were  pacing  in  and  out,  he 
ventured  to  intrude  upon,  the  royal  presence. 
Looking  about  for  the  king,  his  attention  was 
anv>ted  by  two  persons  of  very  dignified  ap- 
pearance, and  both  arrayed  in  robes  of  equal 


REPUBLIC   o  F    H  o  M  K . 


The  Story  of  Caius  Mucius. 


splendor.  One  of  them  sat  motionless  and  ap- 
parently deep  in  meditation ;  the  other,  with 
large  heaps  of  gold  before  him,  was  constantly 
occupied  in  giving  and  receiving  messages, 
and  in  bestowing  portions  of  his  gold  upon  one 
and  another  who  went  in  and  out  before  him. 

"  This  busy  individual  is  certainly  the  king," 
thought  Mucius.  He  dared  not,  however,  ask, 
lest  his  ignorance  should  betray  him.  Firm 
in  his  resolution,  he  therefore  stole  slowly  and 
carelessly  towards  him,  and  having  arrived 
within  Ji  (TUtance  suitable  fur  his  purpose,  drew 
forth  a  knife  which  he  had  concealed  within 
his  div<-;,  and  plunged  it  into  the  heart  of  his 
victim. 

A  cry  of  horror  iv.se  on  all  sides,  and  Mu- 
cius, notwithstanding  hi-  -ate  efforts  to 
'ily  anvskMl.  ]]\-  had  killed 
the  ki HIT'S  secretary  instead  of  the  king,  and 
those  who  held  him.  ,  ;  him  at  once  be- 
fore the  monarch  to  receive  the  sentence  due 
to  his  criiiK>.  Trembling  with  ra^v,  IVisenna 
demanded  his  rea-uji  for  such  monstrous  con- 
duct. Without  the  least  manifestation  of  fear, 
he  replied  in  a  firm  voice:  "I  am  a  Roman. 
My  name  is  Cains  Mucius.  I  came  here  wiih 
a  determination  to  kill  the  enemy  of  my  coun- 
try. Fortune.  Porsenna,  hath  permitted  thee 


WAR    WITH    1'  N  A  . 

,  I'orsenna. 

' 

for  ti.  '.  1  H-ii 

ana  than  mine  will  reach  thee. 
. 

I 

not  seek  the  1.1. >od  of  thy  soldiers,  but  thine 

II- >mlied  at  SUC  :ent, 

the  kini^  at  01  him, 

and  order  kindled.  comma 

i'l"t   in  which  !;• 
i,  under 

arm  in  the  tlan: 
h-.\v  h. 

hack 
i'ered 
his  hand  to  become  fairly  roasted  in  i 

Po;  _r  for  a  few  munii-nts  this 

from 

St    of   hi- 

:a   the  lire.     "  Go  home, 
yum.,          .  laimed ;"  I  cannot  destroy 

such  go  it  be  use'. 

.0   the  liheriy  which  I  give 
and  depart." 

.Mucius  appra1/'  TO  l)y  tlie 

roeity  of  l^r-eima  than  l»y  the  flames  kin- 
I 


34:  EEPUBLIC   OF  KOME. 

Departure  of  Mucius. 

died  for  his  destruction,  thus  addressed  the 
monarch :  I  desire,  O  king !  to  show  you  that 
kindness  is  more  powerful  with  the  brave  than 
threats ;  and  since  you  are  disposed  to  honor 
courage,  be  it  knowTi  to  you,  that  three  hundred 
of  the  principal  youths  of  Rome  have  bound 
themselves  by  an  oath  to  attack  you,  as  I  have 
done  ;  my  lot  happened  to  be  first ;  the  others 
will  be  with  you,  each  in  his  turn,  according 
as  the  lot  shall  set  him  foremost,  until  fortune 
shall  afford  an  opportunity  of  succeeding 
against  you." 

Having  uttered  these  words,  he  departed, 
leaving  Porsenna  most  deeply  affected  by  the 
danger  to  which  he  now  saw  himself  daily  ex- 
posed. One  of  the  three  hundred  assassins 
had  already  been  within  his  tent ;  the  knives  of 
the  others  were  doubtless  ready  to  draw  his 
blood ;  and  if  in  the  hands  of  such  daring  men 
as  Mucius,  how  small  was  his  prospect  of  life. 
For  some  time  Porsenna  sat  upon  the  tribunal, 
silent  and  meditative.  Having  carefully  re- 
flected upon  his  condition,  and  the  chances  of 
conquering  a  people  who  had  resolved  to  resort 
to  the  most  desperate  measures  in  self-defence, 
he  concluded  that  it  would  be  the  part  of  wis- 
dom to  propose  terms  of  accommodation  to  the 
Eomans. 


WITH   PORSEXXA.          35 


The  Story  of  Cloelia. 


Ilis  resolution  beinu-  taken.  IK-  at  once  sent 
ami-;  :<>  tlie  city  vith  • 

/ti«>n  that  Tarquiniua  should  he  ac-kimwl- 

•.     This  the   li-'inan-   ]>er- 

emptorily  refused  ;  and  the  aml»a-  ;>eing 

ucted  no-  vield- 

c  d.    propnsiiiLT   nt  the   same  time  to  withdraw 

their  army,  <>n  c«'iuliti«»n  that  tlie  linnians  should 

up  the  lands  whieh   they  had,  some  time 

l>el'»re,   ta  'in  the  Veieiitians;    and   that 

tliey  should    n'ive    hostagefl    t;»r   the   iiillilnu-nt 

of  tl  The  Romans   In- 

to   this,   Porsenna   removed   his   troops    tVom 

the    Janiculuni    and     departed     to    his    own 

country. 

It  is  said  that  a  y.nniir  \v-.man  named  Clu-lia, 
one  of  the  hostages,  watching  a  favorahle  op- 
portunity,  escajjed  as  they  were  al»«mt  depart- 
inir.  with  several  of  her  companion-,  and  swam 
acn»-s  the  Tiber,  thnniirh  a  >hower  of  dan 
charged  at  them  hy  the  enemy.  Arrivin 

ill  the  other-  repaired 

t<>  th  ;  but  Porsenna,  hear- 

f  the  atlair,  was  very  anirry.  and  sent  am- 

tdors  to  Eome  demanding  the  restoration 

.'i-lia.     No  sooner,  however,  had  the  am- 

adore  gone,  than  Porsenna  expressed  the 

greatest  admiration  of  the  conduct  of  Cloelia, 


36  EEPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

The  Romans  reward  Mucius  and  Cla-lia. 

and  declared  that  if  she  was  restored  he  would 
tend  her  back  to  Rome. 

Faithful  to  the  terms  of  their  treaty,  the  Ro- 
mans caused  Cloelia  to  be  sent  back  to  the 
camp  of  the  Etrurians.  Porseima  not  only 
complimented  her  upon  her  courageous  con- 
duct, but  told  her  that  she  might  return  to  the 
city  and  take  with  her  half  of  the  hostages. 
Granting  her  the  privilege  of  choosing  am«'iig 
them,  it  is  said  that  she  took  the  youngest,  as 
she  considered  these  most  liable  to  injury  from 
the  enemy. 

Peace  being  again  restored,  the  Romans  did 
not  forget  to  reward  Mucius  for  his  heroic  con- 
duct. In  addition  to  the  honor  which  wa<  paid 
to  him,  the  Senate  bestowed  upon  him  a  largo 
traci  near  the  river  Tiber,  culled  afterwards  the 
Mucian  meadows;  and  Mucius  i  the 

name  of  Sc;i-v..la,  or  the  left  handv  d.  because 
his  right  hand  was  destroyed  by  the  flame-  in 
which  he  held  it.  Nor  did  the  conduct  of 
Oo-lia  go  unnoticed.  Her  intrepidity 
commemorated  by  an  e<]iie>trian  statue  erected 
at  the  head  of  the  Sacred  street. 

Porsenna,  unwilling  to  return  home  without 
the  glory  of  a  single  victory,  sent  a  portion  of 
his  forces  to  lay  siege  to  Aricia,  a  city  of  La- 
tium.  It  proved,  however,  an  unfortunate  un- 


\VITH    ]'  37 


Friendship  between  Porsenna  and  the  Romans. 

r  although  the  arrack  \vas  entirely 
unev  it  rived  to  di 

their  city  until  sufficient  ai<l  \\ 
the    I  ates  and  fro      •  hen  they 

:n  -d   an  engagement    in   the  lield.      The 
success  of  the  Ktrurians  seemed  at  first  1>< 
a  doubt;  but  an  artful  movement  on  the  j.art 
of  the  cohorts  of  Cumse  decided  the 

•rces  of  Porsenna  were  completely  b< 
and  scattered  over  the  plains.     A  great  many 
of  them  fled  to  Rome  for  protection.     1 
.so  kindly  received,  that  Porsr 

ifl  gratitude,  gave  ba> 

mans  the  lands  which  they  had  \  i*ree- 

alily  to  the  treaty  that  had  been  lately  made 
between  the 

:ice  was  the  cause  of  so  strong 

endship  between  Porsenna  and  the  Ro- 
mans, that  Tarqu: 

to  promote  his  own  interests  through  their 
quarrels,  went  from  Clusium  to  Tusculmn,  in 
hopes  of  procuring  the  aid  of  Octavius  Mam  51- 

he  renowned  chief  of  the  Latin  nation. 
His  application  in  this  quarter  was  not  in  \ 
Man,  -nt  secretly  to  work  among  the  cit- 

ies of  Latium,  and  thirty  of  them  joined  in  a 
league  against  the  State  of  Rome. 


THE  WAR  WITH  Till-   LATINS. 

FROM   803   TO   49S    B.  0 


INCREASE  of  (he  Population  of  Rome — Public  Lands — Pov- 
ertv — Debts — Slaves — <>otaviu>  M.-mliu-*  make>  War — Diffi- 
culty of  raising  Tn>u]>s — Abolishment  of  I>«-l>t- — <  .'ppositioii 
of  Appius  Claudius — Kmliarrav- ment  of  the  S<n;it< — i 
lishment  of  llir  Dictatorship — l'o\vei>  ut'  tin-  Dictator — Nu- 
ble  Conduct  of  Lartius  and  ('ld-liu> — Lartius  ci-cat«-d  Dicta- 
tor—  I'lV'jiai'ations  for  War — Aulus  PottmniQI — Battle  of  the 
Lake  of  Regillus— Result  of  the  Battle— Ca.-ior  and  Pollux 
— Peace  concluded  with  the  Latins — Death  of  Tarquinius. 


II. 

THE  WAI;  WITH  Tin:  LATINS. 


BEFORE  the  La  t  Ithiir; 

arations  for  war. 

•  had  been  «  .»!  humiliated  l>y 

_rau  to  plunder  and  a- 

;  PuMiiw 
.  iiu- 
:.  inarch- 
. 

I  Ian:*'  portion  of 

tln-ir  !es.    The  Sabines  were  not,  how- 

K-'inans 

their  -tinacy. 

<e  the  01  of  Reme. 

icians,  some  •  connec- 

tion and  sometimes  separ  uade  attacks 

apon  it,  :  -ally  with  very  little  success. 

These  cruel  and  continued  attacks  upon  the 


4:2  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Attus  Clausus— Increase  of  Population. 

young  and  struggling  Republic  were  not  with- 
out opposition  even  among  the  people  who 
carried  them  on.  A  large  number  of  the  Sa- 
bines  protested  against  the  conduct  of  their 
countrymen,  and  used  every  argument  to  pre- 
vent them  from  committing  further  injuries. 
Among  these,  was  one  Attus  Clausus,  a  man  of 
great  wealth  and  powerful  connections.  This 
man,  having  made  repeated  but  ineffectual  ef- 
forts to  put  an  end  to  the  aggressions  of  his 
people,  and  finally  becoming  discouraged  and 
disgusted,  resolved  to  abandon  his  native  coun- 
try and  move  with  all  his  household  and  riches 
to  Rome.  A  great  many  others  followed  his 
example,  and  it  is  said  that  Clausus  went  to 
Rome  accompanied  by  no  less  than  five  thou- 
sand persons. 

This  was  a  very  valuable  accession  to  the 
Roman  power,  and  Clan -us  met,  of  course,  with 
a  favorable  reception.  He  wa<  da» ed  among 
the  patricians,  enrolled  in  the  Senate,  and  des- 
ignated by  the  more  Roman  name  of  Appius 
Claudius.  The  rights  of  citizenship  were  given 
to  those  who  attended  him.  and  lands  upon  the 
river  Anio  assigned  for  their  support.  Thus 
formed  the  nucleus  of  what  afterwards  be- 
came the  Claudian  tribe.  Appius  was  a  man 
of  stern  and  harsh  character,  loved  by  the  pa- 


W  A  ii   WITH   THE   LATI  43 

Public  Lands— Poverty. 

trician?,  dreaded  l>v  tin-   plebeian-,  and  exert- 

.  a  powerful  influ- 
ence in 

It  was  not  until  six  or  i  r  the 

•  lis.hu  icnt  of  peace  between  Porsenna  and 

.ans,    that    (  '  Mamilius    found 

ared  to  undertake  the  <U>tn, 
of  the  Roman  Republic.     When  the  news  of 

.  the  Con- 
suls  and  ••   tilled  with   the   ut 
consternation,  for,  in  addition  to  the  t roubles 
which  threaten*  d  them  abroad,  the  utmo>' 

d  at  In  -me.    The  common  people, 
by  reason  of  incessant  wars  and  by  the  c 
ousness  of  the  patricians,  found  themselve 
duced  to  the  in-  'lied   |.«. \vrty.      I'nder 

the  dominion  of  the  kings  they  had  always  re- 
ceived a  share  of  the  hooty,  together  with  a 

ion  of  the  lands  t  >m  their  ene 

in   \\:  reinaindi-r  l»eiiiLr  n-ervod  to  pay 

uses  of  the  State;  but  t:  -ians, 

-ding  themselves  as  the  sovereigns  of  the 

ihlic,   appropriated  to  their  own    u>e    tho 

I  by  battle,  or  cau-ed 

them  to  be  sold  in  such  a  manner  as  to  place 
all  the  profit  in  their  own  coli 

Nor  did  they  confine  themselves  to  these 
usurpations  only.    It  happened  frequently  that 


REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 


Debt*—  Slaves—  Octavius  Mamilius  makes  War. 

the  crops  were  insufficient  by  reason  of  an  un- 
favorable season,  or  because  of  the  devastations 
of  an  enemy.  Whenever  tii  the  case, 

these  patricians,  finding  means  to  get  possession 
of  all,  compelled  the  plebeians  to  have  recourse 
to  them  for  the  nectaries  of  life.  Those  who 
wished  food  were  obliged  to  borrow  money, 
and  this  was  lent  to  them  only  at  exorbitant 
usury.  Many  thus  incurred  debts  which  they 

utterly  unable  to  pay;  and  the  law  in 
those  days  permitted  the  creditor  to  take  the 
debtor,  upon  default  of  payment,  to  his  o\vn 
house.  and  retain  him  as  his  slave.  Stripes 
and  torments  were  likewise  all"  that 

the  conduct  of  the  patricians  rendered  th-. 
fcrin^s  of  the  people  quite  intolerable. 

It  was  while  the  complaints  of  the  plebeians 

rising  most  loudly  t«»  the  ears  of  the 

:!iat  the  news  came  that  Octavius  ^lamil- 

ius,  with  the  combined  armies  of  thirty  Latin 

.•ing  to  march  against  Rome. 

Already  deputies  from  these  people  were  with- 

in the  walls,  Uttering  the  most  bitter  complaint-, 

e  of  some  excuse,  that 

the  Romans  had  violated  their  treaties  and  for- 
feited the  iv-pect  and  even  the  mercy  of  their 
neighbors.  ]l«»pii!«r  to  derive  great  advantage 
from  the  embarrassing  condition  of  the  Senate, 


A\~  A  i!    \\'  i  ;  L  A  T  I  N  45 

Difficulty  of  raisin-  Troops. 

. 

A 

Roman  i   the 

1   upon  such  (M  If 

their  encouragement  in  beirinning  was  small, 

it  al:  Lre<l  into  di-spair  as  they  pr.> 

ed.    The  ditliculty  of  raising  troops  was  ex- 

Tlie  pe. 
pover  \erse  to  ing  a 

akc   up  arn.  . 

i  compel  those  who   aj>  d  to 

light  for  its  posse- 

disaffi 

\vnuhl    pa->  an  nnlinaiic^   wh.-rt-l.y   th«'<t- 
•  1  with  «U'l»t>  iniirht  IK-  r- 

orts  to  restore  <] 

to  as- 

lious.    A  ditU'ivnce  of  opini-'ii  w:us  at  once 
manifest  among  those   composing  tl.i 
body.      Som«  .illy   incl: 

and  not  so  rich  lo  to 

making  a  law  which  >h..uUl  ivlit-ve  the  poor  of 


46  EEPUBLIC  OF  HOME. 

Marcus  Valerius  on  the  Abolishment  of  the  Debts. 

their  debts;  while  others  declaimed  violently 
against  it,  as  unwise  and  at  variance  with  honor 
and  justice.  "  I  am  of  opinion,"  said  Marcus 
Valerius,  a  much  respected  senator,  "  that  by 
abolishing  these  debts  we  shall  purchase  the 
good-will  of  the  citizens  at  a  small  price,  and 
that  the  great  gain  which  private  individuals, 
as  well  as  the  public,  may  thence  derive,  will 
amply  compensate  for  so  small  a  loss.  Such  a 
measure  would  not  be  without  precedent,  for 
we  all  know  that  the  Republic  of  Athens,  on  a 
similar  occasion,  at  the  instance  of  Solon,  de- 
livered its  poor  from  the  debts  which  embar- 
rassed them.  How  glorious  will  it  be  for  us  to 
relieve  those  citizens  who  have-  rendered  such 
great  service  to  the  lie-public.  wln»  have  >h<>wu 
so  much  courage  in  delivering  their  country 
from  the  cruelly  of  tyrant-.  wh«>  have  always 
been  ready  to  sacrifice  themselves  fnr  the 
oral  good!  Can  \\v  ask  them  to  expose  their 
li\v>,  while  we  deny  them  the  most  trilling  as- 
sistance? Is  not  their  poverty  inure  worn 
compassion  than  of  hatred?  Is  not,  in  fact, 
this  poverty  more  reproachful  to  us  than  to 
them  f' 

Having  >pokon  in  this  manner  for  some  time, 
Valerius  at  length  sat  down  amid  the  applauses 
of  a  large  number  of  the  senators.  But  the 


WAR   WITH   THE   LATINS.         47 

The  Opposition  of  Appias  Claudia*. 

nid  when  Appius 
-peak. 

e  of 

l>tors.     A  la  g  pri- 

vate • 
public  faith  ;  ami  those  in  wh  r  it  is  de- 

. 

eooteoi  of  the  gn  lesstob-  than 

i lurmnrin^s  nf  the  people.      1  mny 

006  \\h- 
ruined  themselves  by  debauch- 

iiappy   if  they  >li..ul«l  (piit   it 

er.    A-  to  the  on 

em  ;   luit  let  it  I..  ;'  the 

creditors 

•.t:i\.      '1  :it    to 

give 

am--!  .-nplo  ai> 

.  let  those  who  ha1, 
up..;.  :.  prnnitted  •  their 

.  the  .-edition,  the  way  t-- 
ty  \\  ill  i;.  .(pled 

•\-  \\i!l  restrain  tii*-  n-bellion>  .- 

pel  them  to  return  to  tin 

With  such  words  he  put  to  silence  the  sup- 


48  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Embarrassment  of  the  Senate— Oppression  of  the  People. 

porters  of  Valerius,  and  a  long  di-cus-km  hav- 
ing ensued,  the  Senate  finally  adjourned,  re- 
solving that  they  would  make  no  decision  in 
the  matter  until  after  the  termination  of  the 
war.  The  people,  in  return,  testified  their  dis- 
approbation of  this  proceeding  by  renewing 
their  complaints  in  more  bitter  terms,  and 
showing  in  a  more  decided  manner  their  deter 
mination  to  try  their  strength  with  that  of  the 
patricians. 

The  situation  of  the  Senate  became,  day  by 
day,  more  embarrassing.  Their  efforts  to  rai>e 
an  army  were  not  only  fruitless,  but  ridiculous; 
and  in  the  mean  time  rumors  were  constantly 
reaching  Rome  that  tin-  powerful  forces  of  the 
Latins  would  soon  be  within  their  terr: 
Consternation  and  despair  were  painted  on  the 
faces  of  every  j-atrieian.  The  Senate  not  hav- 
ing Miiticient  power  to  enforce  obedience  to  its 
will,  feared  that  the  punishment  •  •  frac- 

tory  would  result  in  a   civil  war,  more   ; 
dreaded   than  the   hatred   of  foreign  enemies. 
lint   all  that   the   Senate    lacked   in   pin 
strength  was   made  up   in  superior  cunning  ; 
and,  finding  that  they  must,  yield,  they  deter- 
mined that  in  doing  it  they  would  place  the 
people   under    a  yoke   worse   than   that  from 
which  they  hoped  to  escape.    Pretending,  there- 


\V  AR     WITH     T  !l  K      L  VTI  XS. 
Esu  .tor. 

their  authority,  d   to 

! 

•  ulil  be 

all  law,  '  .oj-t  duration.     '[ 

of  the  decree  which  they  made  «»n  tin- 
was:    "'1  i   C'lu'lius,   who 

ber  witli  all 

publ  .  ^houhl  lay  aside  their  \«>         : 

that  there  shouM  he  l»ut  oiu  ;  that 

I  be  selected  by 

•  voice  of  the  people,  and  that  his 
power   should    not    continue1    lon^r    tha 
The  peopl 

-si on  on  the  part  oi 

•  be  gON  -y    the  newly 

ate. 

<  •!'  Rome,  b\  MJUS  con- 

tlius 
to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  hi 

whose  voice  was  to  be  superior  t<>  that  of 

.  • 

they    had    written    upon 

wood  jii.  •  .stain  1    or  lull   :i-  1m 

al"iie  might  cho  oflScers  of  State, 

!x,  Wei'e  to  be 

at  his  disposal ;  the  treasures  of  the  Republic 

4 


50  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Checks  upon  his  Conduct. 

were  to  be  used  as  he  might  deem  proper; 
peace  and  war  were  to  be  at  his  option  ;  the 
armies  were  to  march  wherever  he  might  or- 
der, and  the  people  were  to  do  his  bidding,  in 
whatever  station  he  might  choose  to  place 
them. 

The  name  of  Dictator  was  given  to  this  new- 
ly created  magistrate,  and  such  was  doubtless 
the  extraordinary  powers  originally  conferred 
upon  him,  although  at  a  subsequent  period, 
when  circumstances  demanded  the  exercise  of 
this  office,  these  powers  were  somewhat  dimin- 
ished. In  later  times  the  dictator  could  not 
use  the  public  money  without  the  authority  of 
the  Senate  or  the  consent  of  the  people, 
ther  could  he  leave  Italy  ;  nor  was  he  permit- 
ted to  ride  on  horseback  without  the  permis- 
sion of  the  people;  and.  what  was  a  si  ill  great- 
er check  upon  his  conduct,  he  might  be  e. 
to  an  account  for  his  actions  after  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  office. 

It  was  important  that  the  man  selected  for 
this  office  should  possess  extraordinary  abilities. 
He  should  be  skilful  in  the  affairs  <,f  govern- 
ment, experienced  in  the  art  of  war  ;  lie  should 
be  a  man  of  wisdom  and  resolution,  and  » 
cially  should  he  be  possessed  of  the  greatest 
moderation. 


\V  A  II      W  IT  II     'I  II  K      L  AT  I  -  f»L 

The  co                            ius  and  ]  Cloe- 

.<!  wort: 

.'•d  with  the  pov>  ator ; 

but  it  was  believed  t:  -jual- 

ate,  willing  that  either  ol'  .<»uhl 

«»posed  that  they 

id  decide  the  ma  dyes. 

1.  art  ius  at  once  iv-  ;    ('In-lius  as  m..re 

deserving  than  liim-rll'.  and  Clu-lius  in>i.-.ti-d  tliat 
•assessed  abilities  superior  to  hi-  «>\\  n  ; 
'.-i»uld  either  ot'  tlu-m  .it  ho 

inrir  d  !«»  th-'  h  no- 

ble cnn<i  U  to  win  universal  ad- 

niiratinn  ;  and  the  Senate  and   ju-nph-  1,, 
more  anxious  that  nm-  of  ;nidd  1.. 

suaded  to  assume  t!  The 

•anie  eager  in   their  de- 

maii'.   .  B;  i-ntiiv  ^  illiiiLr!i»---  t«»  sul.mit 

t«>  th  -ii  nf  nu-n  i'.,r  wlium  the  Lrlnr. 

advantajre-  <>l' ah-nlute  j.n\\er  }..-s>es>ed  s<>  little 
ehann. 

The   Senate  ha  [ted   a  wlmle  day,  in 

at  one  or  the  nther  ^>i'  th- 

mnHils-  w..uld  permit  liiniselt'  t«>  '•  ,\   f,,r 

the  ne\v  office,  finally  a<ljounied.     In  the  . 
ing,  many  of  the  relatives  «,t'  (  In  lin>  and  Lar- 
tius,  together  with  several  of  the  most  eminent 


52  REPUBLIC    OF   ROME. 

Lartius  made  Dictator— His  Public  Appearance. 

senators,  repaired  to  the  house  of  Lartius,  and 
bdfeought  him  in  the  most  earnest  terms  that  he 
would  sacrifice  his  generous  feelings  to  the 
public  goud.  Overcome  at  length  by  their  con- 
tinued remonstrances,  he  consented  that  his  col- 
league should  name  him  as  Dictator. 

Having  accepted  thN  new  office,  Lartius  re- 
solved t<>  make  such  an  impression  on  the  peo- 
ple as  was  intended  by  it>  creation.  To  this 
end,  he  made  his  appearance  before  them 
with  the  utmost  pomp.  The  kings  had  always 
d  by  twelve  lictors,  each  carrying 
in  his  hand  an  axe.  These  axes  had  been  re- 
moved by  the  consul  Valerius  ;  but  Lartius  not 
only  caused  the  8  -red.  but  lie  even 

doubled    the  number  of  the   lict«»rs,  in  t<»k. 
a  p"'  :-ior  to  that  of  kings.     The  e 

precisely  such   as  could  be  de-iivd.     A 
magi-Irate. >uch  as  the  Dictator  presented  him- 
self, was  little  in  accordance  with  the 
tions  of  the  people.      They  were  n<>t  only  a 
Hied  but  frightened  at   }\\<  appearance,  having 
•ted  upon  the  immense  power 
with  which  he  wa-  clothed.     The  magnilicence 
of  his  cortege,  the  proud  and  commanding  air 
which  he  assumed, reminded  them  of  the  !. 

re  whom  they  had  lately  trembled  ;  and  the 
obedience  which  they  had  promised  to  the  new 


V,  i:   LATI  53 

Impression  upon  the  People—  Manner  of  raising  Troop*. 


ruler,  was  MOV  .1  iVuin  the  \  with 

which  h- 

or   having   made    a  -sion 

upon  the  minds  c\vn  «.>!'  i  turbulent,  he 

d  all  th  lied  with  the 

utmost  6}  :ie  number  of  those  a 

age  of  si  nd  to  be  a  hun- 

housand  and  seven  him 
Having  -c|.arated  the  old  men  from  those  who 

:  ins,  he  formed  the 

into  four  bodies  «  :  ry  and  cavalry.     The 

d  of  the  bravest  and  most  expe- 

.  and, 

.itting  Cla-lius,  his   former  colh 
choo  the  others,  he  p. 

ins  his  general  01  1  the 

:irius  Lav 
Jlaviii:.-- 

i  »ody  of  troops  to  protect 

•  at  thos*  -.vliL-re  he 

they  would  be  most  likely  to  encoun- 
y.     But  he  was  anxious,  if  possi- 
:-e  peace  ^nthout  blood^i 
5  that  he  miirht  succi-ed  in  Mr 
with  j.rudent  men  to  the 

}>rincipal  ai«>n,  and  iinally  suc- 

'::^  a  truce  f«»r  OM6  year. 
Althnu_.  if  with  the  Latins  was  inevita- 


54:  EEPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Preparations  made  for  War. 

ble,  still  its  postponement  for  so  long  a  time 
was  gratifying  both  to  the  people  and  to  the  Sen- 
ate. Lartius,  believing  that  the  office  of  Dicta- 
tor was  no  longer  necessary  for  the  safety  of 
Rome,  returned  with  his  army,  and  resigning 
his  authority,  named  Sempronius  Atratinus  and 
Marcus  Minucius  as  consuls  for  the  remainder 
of  the  year. 

Nothing  now  was  thought  of  but  the  prep- 
aratioas  necessary  for  the  deadly  struggle 
which  must  take  place  between  Rome  and  the 
Latin  nation.  In  order  that  civil  discord  might 
be  prevented,  the  Senate  issued  a  decree  for- 
bidding creditors  to  disturb  their  debtors  until 
after  the  war.  They  also  decreed  that  any 
Latin  WOUK-II  who  hud  married  and  settled  in 
Rome  should  be  permitted  to  go,  with  their 
daughters,  to  the  home  of  their  ancestors  it' 
they  chose;  they  also  invited  those  Roman 
women,  who  had  married  and  gom»  into  the 
cities  of  the  Latins,  to  return  with  their  daugh- 
ter- t«>  U<>im>,  for  none  could  tell  how  dreadful 
would  be  the  war  which  was  shortly  to  begin. 
All  the  Latin  women,  it  is  said,  but  two  re- 
mained in  Rome  witJi  their  husbands;  while 
all  the  Roman  women,  loving  Rome  more  than 
their  husbands,  took  their  young  daughters, 
and  came  hack  to  the  homes  of  their  fathers. 


WAR   WITH   THK   LAT  55 


us  created  Dictator. 


In  for  con- 

had  taken  place,  and  Auli.-  r<-:umius  and 

.  >u^ht  that  this  war  Q  tho 

Latin-  and  the  Romans  would  re-ult  in  the  de- 
or  the   other  nation  ;   and  at 
such   a  critical  time,  it  was   :  that  the 

admi  :i  ..f  «n>\vrnment  should  he  ; 

<>f  one  person.    Tin 
,;lh'd  uj..  .me  a 

Yiipniu-  named    his 
I'.^tuniiu-,  f.»r  thi-  imp-. 
was  .'iily   t:  B  the 

Us,  one  of  the 
in.-t  ti-rrihh- 

11   Cll«_MvLr 

A-    .-.Mil    a>    every    tliinir  was    in    ivadines-, 
Aulro  ]>ut  himself  at  the  head  »i'  liis  tr«..,p- 

•:UM!  l'..rih  }),>ldly  to  in.-ct  the  enemy.      He 

t'  Pneneste,  a 

ahoiit    i  .-tward    tr^ni 

K.'ine.      Arriving   near  the    L:ik«- 
which  was  not  very  tar  l'r«»iii  I'ra 

army  of  Octaviu-  Mainil- 

.idvancii  |  ••!>    him.      Hi-   <>\\n   army 

>mall.  composed  of 

>,tnd    intantry  and   three  thou- 

?and    horse;    hut    the    I.atin<    tar 


56  KEPUBLIC  OF  HOME. 

Battle  of  the  Lake  of  Regillus. 

him,  they  being  three  thousand  horse  and  forty 
thousand  infantry. 

Approaching  each  other,  they  immediately 
formed  in  battle  array.  Sextus  Tarquinius  ap- 
peared at  the  left  wing  of  the  Latins  ;  Octavius 
Mamilius  at  the  right ;  while  Titus,  the  other 
son  of  Tasquinius,  occupied  the  centre,  at  the 
head  of  the  exiles,  and  of  those  who  had  pre- 
ferred the  party  of  the  Tarquins  to  that  of  their 
country.  The  cavalry  was  also  divided  into 
three  bodies,  one  in  each  wing,  and  one  in  the 
centre.  Conspicuous,  too,  among  the  leaders 
was  old  King  Tan|iiinius,  though  his  head  was 
now  white  with  the  frost  of  nearly  ninety  win- 
ters. 

The  Roman  army,  small  when  compared 
with  that  of  tin1  Latins,  drew  up  boldly  t<>  the 
conte>t.  Titus  ^Ebutius,  general  of  the  cavalry, 
was  stationed  upon  the  left;  the  consul  Vir- 
ginius  on  the  right ;  and  the  Dictator  Aulus 
commanded  the  front  of  the  battle.  Though 
the  Romans  perceived  at  a  glance  that  their 
force  was  unequal  to  that  of  their  enemie- 
they  were  n< >wi>e.  daunted,  but  seemed  rather 
t<>  be  endowed  with  twofold  strength  when  they 
found  that  their  former  tyrant  and  his  hateful 
sons  were  prominent  among  the  leaders  of  their 
toes.  The  knowledge  of  this  fact  filled  them 


AVAR    WITH    THE     LATINS.  57 

The  Fuiy  of  the  Battle. 

with  so  much  fury,  that   it  was  with  diiliculty 
thev  ::ted    fruin  rushing  headlong 

into  the  battle. 

Aldus.  :iir   the   anl<>r   uf  his   troops, 

and  hearing,  •  \  that  tl. 

flirt  h  d  for  the 

battle.      Nnthiiiir  could    . 

with   which  the   tW< 

upon  each   other.     That   vast   line  of  >ol«, 
.  0r  liill  aii'l  <lale,  a-  lar  a-  th- 
•eh.  SOOHHM!    sudden! 

as   it'  by  IIKILMC.      ( )nward 

is  and  spears  giving  forth   a 
•nado    tlie    earth    tremble   around 
le  confined  to  the  sol- 
alone.     Tliose  who  '_i-he>t  in  com- 
mand were  con-],  it.    Even  old 
la  rquinius  dashed  forward,  lance  in  hand, 
to  where  it   rai^-d   most  fiercely;    and  his  son 

i']y  by  his  side.till  oblig> 

retire,  woimdt-(l  by  a  javelin.  yKhutiu-,  also, 
the  general  of  the  Homan  cavalry,  heedless  of 
his  own  person,  darted  upon  ^Mamilius,  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  en.-my,  woundinir  him 
in  the  bn-a<t,  and  r>  B  a  bl«»\v 

that  nearly  deprive<l  liim  nf  an  arm.     S« 

litu-  llci-minius  iiiclitinir  a<  bravely  as  he 
did  upon  the  bridge,  when  Horatius  Codes  mi- 


58  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Marcus  Valerius— The  Progress  of  the  Battle. 

dertook  to  defend  it  against  the  combined  for- 
ces of  Porsenna.  And  Marcus  Valerius,  also, 
entered  the  contest,  swearing  that  as  his  family 
had  the  honor  of  having  banished  the  Tar- 
quinii,  so  they  should  possess  that  of  having 
slain  them.  But  the  boast  of  Valerius  was  in 
vain,  for,  intent  upon  killing  Titus  Tarquinius, 
he  rushed  madly  into  the  midst  of  a  band  of 
Latins,  and  was  pierced  by  a  score  of  darts. 
•  •nge  immediately  took  p<>.->e— ion  of  those 
who  witnessed  the  deed,  and  the  body  of  Va- 
lerius was  soon  covered  by  a  hundred  of  his 
foes. 

The  left  wing  of  the  Roman  army,  discour- 
aged by  the  loss  of  its  chiefs,  and  vigorously 
attacked  by  tin.-  o\il«  I  t->  -ivr  way  and 

lly.  Tlu-  Dictator  Aulus  perceiving  it,  gave 
orders  for  a  detachment  of  cavalry  to  repair  to 
the  .spot  and  compel  the  deserters  to  return, 
or  slay  them  a<  eneniie-.  Placing  himself  al>o 
at  the  head  <"f  a  flu-sen  band,  he  fell  furi- 
ously upon  the  exiles,  put  them  to  flight,  and 
slew  Titus,  the  son  of  King  Tarquinius. 

This  all'air,  so  unfortunate  for  the  Latin  ar- 
my, \va-  perceived  by  Mamilius,  their  leader. 
Fearful  of  the  consequences,  lie  sped  with  a 
detachment  to  aid  the  routed  exiles.  But 
llerminius,  the  lieutenant-general  of  the  Ro- 


:     WITH     THK      1 


:        I'rogreM  of  the  Battle— Result  of  the  Battle. 

man  arm  'I:imilius  l>y  hi-  elothes 

and  arm-,  daru-d  upon  him  and  slow  liim  at  u 

•  w  of  his  lanee.     A  Minilar  fate,  how- 

minius   for  as   he  stooped    to 

il  Mamiliu-  :lm»u«;li  with 

a  javelin,  and  laid  dead  upon  th.  t'  his 

11   the  !<-.  of  the  Latin  army,  under 

the  CMiui!  .  .ir<|iiinins.  maintained 

their  ground,  and  th»-  U«>man 
^ivin.ir  way  1  bem,  when  Aulns,  with  a 

I  tO   their 

viiiij   his   situation    t«»    hi- 

:ms   with   the 

fury  M!'  despair.     AVith  his  of  1   lie  cut 

him,  until   at   length, 
surrounded   !•  HM  hurh-d   to  the 

.ml,  covered  with  blood  and  wounds. 
The   Latin-.  inir  that  their  elm-f- 

all slaii..  Town  in1  -iio>t  con- 

interior  officers   ].artieij>atii 
•  ral    alarm,    :' 

mand,  and  in  a  short  time  that  ii>  army 

.  lli^ht.     The 

!-y  of  the  Kumans  was  complete.     Th.- 
tie  hud  <  ing  the  whole  day,  and 

when  they  laid  down  at  ni^ht,  tlu-y  w«-re  sur- 
rounded by  the  dead  bodies  of  thirty  thousand 


60  REPUBLIC   OF   ROMP:. 

The  two  mysterious  Horsemen. 

of  their  enemies ;  they  also  had  in  charge 
five  thousand  prisoners,  together  with  a  large 
amount  of  the  richest  spoils. 

Many  wonderful  things  are  related  of  the 
battle  of  the  Lake  of  Regillus.  Among  others, 
it  is  said  that  during  one  period  of  the  battle 
the  Romans  gave  way  so  rapidly  before  the 
Latins,  that  Aulus  fell  down  upon  his  knees 
and  vowed  a  temple  to  the  deities  Castor  and 
Pollux,  if  they  would  aid  him  to  win  the  vic- 
tory. No  sooner  had  he  risen  to  his  feet  than 
two  horsemen,  arrayed  in  glittering  apparel 
and  upon  snow-white  steeds,  appeared  at  the 
head  of  the  Roman  bands,  exciting  all  around 

7  O 

them  to  courage,  and  carrying  destruction 
wheresoever  they  went.  Wherever  the  battle 
was  fiercest,  there  might  these  shining  cava- 
liers be  seen ;  nor  did  they  quit  their  danger- 
ous position  until  the  camp  was  taken  and  the 
enemy  put  to  flight;  but  when  Aulus  inquired 
fur  them,  in  order  that  he  might  bestow  UJM.U 
them  ii  reward  Milted  t<>  their  valor,  they  could 
not  be  found,  either  among  the  living  or  the 
dead.  As  the  sun-  went  down,  the  people  of 
Rome  became  anxious  to  know  h«»\v  the  battle 
had  gone;  and  while  they  were  wonderi : 
to  the  fate  of  their  friends,  there  suddenly  ap- 
peared in  the  Forum  two  shining  horsemen  upon 


\Y  A  R    WITH    Tiir:    1  61 


Castor  And  Pollux— Triumph  of  Auhi?. 


snow-white  h< irses.  h;r-  ry  appearance  of 

men  who  lia<l  ju>t  00  attle.  and 

their  hor>es  all  covered  with  foam.     Gfaing  iin- 
medi;  fountain    by   the   temple  of 

;u  they  wa-hed  away  the  >tain>  of  the 
%ht,  and  related  t«>  all  wh<»  cruwdi-d  anaind 
them  how  the  battle  had  l>een  t«»u^ht,  and  huw 
it  had  l>een  w«.n.  Then  they  iiK»nnted  their 
horses  and  rn«le  tVnm  the  1-Wuin;  imr  e«»uld 
they  ever  be  fmiiid  .  th..uirh  dil' 

:i  wa<  inadi-  t'.-r  them  in  every  j»!: 

f  the  battle  were  sent  t->  the  E 
-e   j.e.'i'h"  nn  the  l'..ll..win^  day  ; 
and  mention  i>  said  t«»  havi-  b  :'  tin? 

n.      Tin 

1  Pollux  had  aided  Anlus 
cord- 
iiiirly  rai-ed  in  their  honor. 

<  ii  'ie  ri'joiein^r  in  Rome  when  Anlns 

with  his  victorious  army  retn;:  inj/ their 

rii-h  '  ,  and  Accompanied  by  tiu-ii-numer- 

OUB  pi  d  with  a  ina^niii- 

triumphal  procession,  and  a  tenth  part  of 

M  set  apart  for  the  celebration  of 

games,   and   fur   the   performance  of  suitable 

sacrifices. 

These  had  scarcely  been  concluded,  when  the 
Latins  sent  ambassadors  to  Rome,  chosen  from 


BE  PUBLIC   OF   ROME. 


Peace  concluded  with  the  Latins. 


all  the  principal  cities  which  had  opposed  the 
recent  war.  They  brought  olive  branches  in 
their  hands;  and  appearing  before  the  Sen- 
ate, made  long  speeches,  in  which  they  con- 
demned the  conduct  of  their  countrymen,  and 
threw  the  blame  of  the  war  upon  their  rulers. 
They  confessed  that  they  had  been  justly  pun- 
ished, and  desired  to  become  the  inseparable 
friends  of  the  Romans,  promising  implicit  obe- 
dience to  their  commands,  and  aid  to  them  in 
all  their  enterprises. 

The  Senate  did  not  seem  much  inclined  to 
listen  to  their  professions,  inasmuch  as  they  had 
hitherto  proved  themselves  false  and  treacher- 
ous. Nevertheless,  it  was  finally  determined 
to  grant  them  peace,  on  condition  that  they 
would  deliver  up  all  their  deserters,  drive  awav 
the  exiles  who  had  taken  rei'mre  among  them, 
and  surrender  th<»>e  whom  they  had  taken  pris- 
oners. "Do  all  this/'  said  the  .Dictator  to 
them,  "and  then  return,  and  we  will  conclude 
with  YOU  a  treaty  of  peace." 

A  low  days  alter,  the  ambassadors  returned, 
bringing  with  them  the  deserters,  whom  they 
had  caused  to  be  arrested.  A  treaty  of  friend- 
ship was  then  arranged ;  and  thus,  after  strug- 
gling fourteen  years  against  the  machinations 
of  King  Tarquinius,  Rome  at  last  beheld  him 


WAR   WITH    THK    LATIH  63 

D**thofT*rquinlo*. 

completely    OYOPtfalOWn,      Driven    away    from 
the  cities  of  tlio  Latins,  he  was  obliged  to  take 
i;e.  W!K- re  he,  at  last,  died  in<>l>-rii- 
rity  and  wn-:.-  I,     Tli«-  IK-WS  «.f  his  death 

was  reci-ive<l  with  i^reat  joy  at  Ronu1,  lx»th 
ainun^  the  senators  and  the  onum-ns;  but  it 
wast  1  t'«>r  fre>h  injuries  to  the  people, 

and  further  di>turbances  of  the  public  peace. 


THE  PATRICIANS  MD  PLEBEIANS, 

FROM   493   TO   401    B.  C. 


SERVILIUS  and  Appius  Claudius — Oppression  of  the  Poor 
—The  Story  of  the  old  Centurion— Trouble  with  the  People 
— A  threatened  Invasion — Preparations  for  Battle — The  Vol- 
f-'i  repulsed — Further  Troubles  on  account  of  the  Debts — 
The  Sabines  attack  Rome — The  People  refuse  to  enlist — A 
Dictator  created — Rome's  Enemies  defeated — Retirement  of 
the  People  to  Moris  Sacer — Effort  of  the  Patricians  to  bring 
them  back. 


III. 

THE  PATRICIANS  AND  PLEBEIA 


SINCE  the  creation  of  the  first  Dictator,  the 
patricians  had  learned  that  their  own  sa 
as  well  as  that  of  the  commonwealth,  depend- 
ed upon  their  treatment  of  the  poorer  classes. 
These  must  be  conciliated,  if  protection  was 
I'd  against  the  enemies  of  the  Republic. 
One  source,  and  a  very  great  source  too,  of 
their  uneasiness  was  removed,  since  death  had 
•I  Tarqu  tn    ^ivin^  them   any 

further  trouble.     No  sooner  did  they  see  them- 

•red  from  this  fear,  than 
commenced  the  same  hateful  course  which  had 
so  exasperated  the  poor  upon  former  occasions. 
Those  debts  which  had  before  created  so  much 
trouble,  remained  still  unpaid.  They  were  now 
talked  «.f,  and  their  payment  vehemently  de- 
manded. The  poor  expostulated,  and  earnestly 
plead  their  inability.  The  creditors  replied, 


68  REPUBLIC    OF    ROME. 

Servilius  and  Appius  Claudius. 

that  they  had  acted  with  leniency ;  that  they 
had  submitted  to  a  law  which  had  robbed  them 
of  their  rights ;  that  the  war  was  at  last  brought 
to  a  close,  and  that  the  time  for  the  settlement 
of  their  claims  had  now  arrived.  Severity  was 
used;  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  utmost 
cruelty  was  resorted  to.  It  is  not  surprising, 
then,  that  a  general  discontent  should  follow, 
and  that  the  city  should  again  be  threatened 
with  civil  discord.  In  the  midst  of  all  this, 
Aulus  Postumius  resigned  the  dictatorship,  and 
Appius  Claudius  and  Publius  Servilius  were 
elected  consuls. 

The  election  of  these  two  men  to  the  consul- 
ship was  a  contrivance,  and  perhaps  a  good 
contrivance,  of  the  Senate ;  for,  although  they 
both  possiv-M-d  exeellent  traits,  they  were  very 
different  in  their  dispositions.  Appius  was  a 
man  of  pvat  resolution,  and  a  severe  ol»erver 
of  the  lavi  s  ;  while  Servilius,  on  the  other  hand, 
was  gentle,  humane,  and  agreeable  to  the  poor 
aud  to  the  multitude.  There  was  nothing  more 
certain  than  a  contrariety  of  opinions  between 
them.  Servilius  could  not  fail,  from  the  good- 
ness of  his  heart,  to  favor  the  suppression  of 
debts,  or  at  least  the  taking  off  of  the  exorbitant 
and  accumulated  interest,  which  already  ex- 
ceeded the  debts  themselves.  Appius,  on  the 


PATRICIANS  AND  PLEBEIANS.     69 

Oppression  of  the  Poor. 

•ury,  maintained  that  it  was  unjust  to  re- 
lieve the  debtor  at  th  36  of  the  creditor; 
and  lie  iir«red  that  the  course  proposed  by  Ser- 
vilius  would  be  regarded  by  the  seditious  only 
a<  a  mark  of  concealed  weakne-s,  and  that  new 

•uld  be  thereby  IbsU 

Tli-  ions  which  they  hold  together  did 

not  fail  to  roach  tho  ears  of  the  pe«»plo.  and  j.nb- 

lic  feeling  wafl  oxhihitod  in  the  ;  hich 

bestowed  ifpon  S  .  as  woll  a-  in  tho 

'.(•a[»od   upon  ..'1   «>f 

Aj'j'in-.  hi-  o«.»lleaguc. 

All   the   efforts  of  Servilius  were  in  vain. 

}>y  their 

•iless  en-  .      in»  delivered  them    ; 

prisons  and  >t rij.es,  and  made  them  undergo 

11   they  cried  «>ut 
:':ie   law,   and    in,  iiiont 

•.^rs  to  free  themseT 

their  "j'i>!o—  i.ius.     Secret  meeting-  wei\-  held 
in   t!.  ^  (.f  dol'r  -.vere 

tantly   devi.-e<l   and    di  .       :id,   in    a 

>hort  time.  th«»  city  was  thrown  into  the  most 
violent  commotion. 

I  pon  a  certain  occasion,  while  G  MMIII- 

Of  the    people  together  and 

talking  over  thel:  and 

feeble   centurion,  loaded  with    heavy   chains, 


70  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

The  Story  of  the  old  Centurion. 

threw  himself  in  their  midst,  claiming  their 
protection.  His  clothes  were  soiled  and  torn, 
his  face  pale  and  disfigured,  and  his  whole  ap- 
pearance gave  evidence  of  the  grossest  mal- 
treatment. Notwithstanding  his  pitiful  and 
wretched  condition,  there  were  many  present 
who  recognized  him,  and  who  said  that  he  had 
formerly  been  a  centurion  that  had  often  won 
distinction  by  his  bravery  in  battle.  He  him- 
self showed  the  scars  which  he. had  received  in 
various  combats,  and  gave  the  names  of  the 
consuls  and  officers  under  whom  he  had  served. 
Upon  being  asked  by  the  multitude,  whence  he 
came,  and  why  he  was  in  such  a  deplorable 
condition,  he  replied,  that  while  he  was  serving 
in  the  war  against  the  Sabines,  the  enemy  had 
fallen  upon  his  property,  destroying  not  only 
the  crops  which  covered  his  fields,  but  the 
house  which  proteeted  his  little  ones;  that 
they  had  carried  away  his  ih»cks  and  herds, 
and  all  that  he  had  laid  by  to  support  himself 
and  family.  lie  said,  too,  that,  to  increase  his 
misfortunes,  a  heavy  tribute  had  been  exacted 
from  him  at  a  timw  when  he  was  without  the 
means  to  pay  it ;  that,  in  order  to  satisfy  this 
demand,  he  had  been  compelled  to  borrow 
money  on  exorbitant  interest;  that  this  interest 
having  accumulated,  he  had  been  obliged  first 


PATRICIANS   AND    PLEBEIANS.    71 

Effect  of  the  Story  upon  the  People. 

!  his  lands,  then  his  household  goods,  and, 
finally,  that  he  had  been  compelled  to  deliver 
him-  -lave  t..  those  who  hud  taken 

•n  of  his  substance.  IK-  said,  n 
that  hi>  eredit"is  had  treate<l  him,  not  as  a 
>lave,  hut  us  a  criminal  condemned  to  the 
punishment;  and  in  proof  ef  this, 
exhibited  UJM.II  his  back  the  marks  of  the 
whips  and  rods  with  which  his  flesh  had  been 
torn. 

soon  as  he   had   finished   speaking  and 
wounds,  the   pe  a    tu- 

mult  which    pervaded    the   wh««le 
who    ha<;  i    similar    maltreatmi-n1. 

from  all  quarters,  imploring  the  protection  of 
their  fellows,  and  the  multitude  .-oon  became 
so  great  as  to  create  considerable  alarm  amon^ 
the  patricians.  S<.me  of  them,  indeed,  would 
have  doubtless  lost  their  lives,  had  not  the 

the    aiiLTiT   of  the 

pop;,  As  soon  as  these  magi  ::ad«- 

their  a}»j)earance,  the  multitude  turned  towards 
them,  and  exhibited  the  chains  and  ignomini- 
ous stripes  that  had  been  inflicted  upon  ; 
who  had  hazarded  their  lives  in  behalf  of  the 
"Republic.  They  demanded,  in  threatening  lan- 
e,  that  the  Senate  should  be  assembled  at 
once,  and  that  something  should  be  done  to 


BE  FUEL  ic  or  HOME. 


Trouble  with  the  People—  An  Alarm. 


protect  them  from  the  injuries  to  which  they 
were  expo-cd. 

Some  of  the  senators  having  collected  to- 
irotlicr.  the  people  assembled  in  crowds  around 
their  place  of  meeting,  determined  that  they 
should  act  promptly  and  efficiently  in  their  be- 
half. But  either  through  fear,  or  a  di.-inclina- 
tion  to  act,  they  sent  out  word  to  them  that 
»t  a  sufficient  number  present  to 
Iran-act  business.  This  exei;  iiow- 

.    satisfactory,   and    the    tumult    continued 
with    increasing    fury.      The    absent 
being  linally   con  :hey   promised   to  do 

something  at  on<  people. 

Jn  the  mid>t  of  all  this  tumult,  the  attention 
of  the   multitude  nly   attracted   to- 

ward an  who   \  I'uri- 

ou>ly  over  the  <listant  hills  in  the  direction  ,.f 
Koine.  Onward  he  C  if  lite  depended 

on  the  speedy  fultilment  nf  hU  course.  The 
multitude  ga/.ed  and  wondered,  and  seemed  for 
the  time  to  f«,rget  the  C&USe  wiiich  had  brought 
them  together.  Presently  the  lior>eman  was 
hid  behind  the  walls  which  he  was  rapidly  ap- 
proaching: and  then  the  city  gates  tlew  open, 
and,  without  .Blackening  his  ]  hounded 

forward  towards  the  plae<  -mbly.     uTo 

arms  !   To  arms,  Romans  !"  he  shouted  ;  "  the 


I 

.  atened  Invasion— Joy  of  the  People. 

••'  1111- 

a  friendly  eh' 

.     A  pro- 
vast  as- 

•lage.      1  ut  of 

i^ods  are 

••I  tlu«  furious  nmlti: 
will  soon  him. 

. 

iitul  now 
. 

of  joy  with  which  it  i  i   l»y  the 

d  people.     All  was  confusion  and  un- 
-enators,  ; 

:.(•-<  .uirht  the  con- 

»  was  more  popular  than  his 

appease 

the  people,  a  in  hack  t«>  a  sense  of 

thi-ir  «lut;  tlh-ir  mi  I  iliti- 

iM^st  sootl.  .  that. 

:i  the 

:m-ansofgra  r^p- 

.ted  to  :  ie  consternation  pro- 


74:  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Murmurings  cease — Preparations  for  Battle. 

ducecl  by  hearing  of  the  approach  of  their 
enemies,  together  with  the  necessity  of  imme- 
diate action  on  their  part,  made  it  impossible 
for  them  to  labor  effectually  in  behalf  of  the 
private  interests  of  the  citizens.  He  implored 
them,  for  the  sake  of  their  wives  and  children, 
to  lay  aside  their  hostility  towards  the  patri- 
cians, and  to  aid  in  the  public  defence.  He 
promised  also  that  upon  the  close  of  the  war, 
every  thing  should  be  done  which  could  pro- 
mote their  welfare  ;  and  decreed  that,  in  the 
mean  time,  no  debt  whatever  should  be  pros- 
ecuted. 

The  well-known  kindness  of  Servilius,  the 
zeal  which  he  had  always  manifested  in  behalf 
of  the  people,  together  with  the  mildness  and 
eloquence  with  which  he  spoke,  were  powerful 
enough  to  calm  all  mimnurings.  The  people 
permitted  themselves  to  be  enrolled,  and  < 
exhibited  considerable  ardor  in  ranging  them- 
selves under  the  ^tandards  of  their  leaders. 
Marching  out  of  the  city, with  Servilius  at  their 
head,  they  encountered  the  enemy,  who  were 
hastening  forward,  "conn1  dent  of  victory.  The 
battle  was  delayed  until  the  consul  felt  assured 
that  the  sudden  animation  of  his  troops  was  not 
affected.  Seeing  that  they  were  really  eager 
for  the  combat,  he  gave  the  signal,  and  nc\-»-r 


PATRI  AND   PLEBEIANS      ::» 

The  Volscl  repulsed. 

did  soldier^  d  r  bravery  <>r  intr« 

ity.     TheVi-'.  unable  to  withstand  their 

!1  back  terrified  and  confined.     The 
Komans  pursued  them  e\vn   into   the  midst  of 

their  Their  triumph  was  complete;  and, 

:iir  themselves  with  booty,   they  111:11 
en  t.»  ^^uessa  Pometia,  where   tlu-  i\-innant  <•!' 

nciny  ha<l   ll«--L      Iln-.-   liu-  \ 
ti-ndrd  them-'  h  much  obstinacy  during 

-.    but    \\viv    linally    cmnjn  l!cd    t«> 
yield.       Having   pillaged   all    the   houses   and 

.   and  put  the  inhabitants  to  the  swnrd. 

iius  ]\-turiK'd  with  his  victorious  tnx>] 
Ron 

Tlii'-e  adtlitinnal  victMi-i,  .-«1    tin-   peo- 

ple with  a  hope  that  the  Senate  would  now 
^rant  the  relief  which  had  been  promised  to 
them  through  the  c<»n>ul  Servilius.  A  short 

i  the  re- 
cent campaign,  they  di-manded  a  I'uliilment  of 
the  proiiii-e.  Hut  Apjtins  had  become  jealous 
of  the  success  of  his  colleague  Servilius,  and, 
in  order  to  throw  him  into  contempt,  i. 
the  law  to  be  enforced  with  all  its  se\\-ritv 
against  debtors.  Those  who  were  thereby  per- 
secuted resorted  to  Servilius  for  protection  : 
but  it  was  all  in  vain  ;  for  even  if  he  had  been 
able  to  help  them,  he  was.  now  disinclined  to 


76  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Further  Troubles  grow  out  of  the  Debts. 

interfere,  inasmuch  as  his  colleague  and  all  the 
nobility  were  favorable  to  opposite  measures. 
But  by  this  course  of  conduct  he  not  only  ac- 
quired the  hatred  of  the  plebeians,  but  lost 
the  esteem  of  the  patricians ;  the  former  re- 
garded him  as  a  deceiver,  and  the  latter  con- 
sidered him  as  devoid  of  the  firmness  necessary 
to  a  ruler. 

The  people  now,  giving  up  all  hopes  of  pro- 
tection, resolved  to  take  matters  in  their  own 
hands.  Persons  were  stationed  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  courts  for  the  purpose  of  watch- 
ing whatever  transpired.  Whenever  any  debtor 
was  seized  and  led  in  for  trial,  a  crowd  rushed 
in  from  all  quarters,  making  so  much  clamor 
and  confusion  as  to  prevent  the  voices  of  the 
officers  from  being  heard,  and  likewise  to  deter 
any  one  from  executing  the  sentence  of  the 
la\v.  The  people  seemed  likely  to  obtain  by 
force  what  they  had  failed  to  procure  by  en- 
tivaty  :  and  the  creditor,  who  was  now  assailed 
and  abused  by  the  angry  multitude,  seemed 
even  in  greater  divad  of  Wing  his  liberty  than 
the  debtor.  In  the  midst  of  this  difficulty,  an 
alarm  was  spread  that  the  Sabines  were  intend- 
ing to  make  an  attack  upon  the  city.  Orders 
were  promptly  issued  for  a  levy  of  troops,  but 
not  a  single  man  would  suffer  himself  to  be  en- 


I >  A  T  R  I  r\  A  X  S     A  XI)      P  L  K  B  K  I  A  X  S  .       77 
Attack  of  the  Sabines— The  People  refuse  to  enlist 

rolled.     Dismay   airain  took  posses>ion  of  the 

be.    The  consul  Servilius  llattered  the  peo- 
ple in  vain,  and  in  vain  did  the  consul  Appius 
scold   and  threaten   to  vi-it  their  disobed: 
with  tin-  :'  the  law.     They 

hade  the  senators  to  take  up  amis  them-e 
they  told   Servilius   that   his   promises  wer 

i-  than  those  of  their  perjured   allies,  and 
they   ridiculed  the  raire  of  Appius  and  <; 
him  '  , 'e  tli.-  threats  uf  which  he  was  SO 

lavish.      Kvery   day   man  IV  worse   and 

•id    most  srrion-  fear>  wen-  ei.' 
for  the  safety  of  the  commonwealth. 

About   this   time,    the    term-  of  the   consuls 

!lius  and  Appius  drawing  to  a  close,  the 
friend-  of  the  UepuMie  hoped  that  the  election 
of  COIIMI!  aide  to  the  people  would 

he  productive  of  some  derive  of  rpiict.     Aldus 
^'iririIliu-  and  Titus  Vetu-iiN  were  the  penom 

•<1    to   ntlice;    l»ut    the  people,   now  uncer- 
tain a-  to  what  kind  of  governors  were  set 
them,  held   regular  nightly  in  upon  the 

K-<juiline  and  Aventine  mounts,  in  order  that 
they  might,  it  any  time,  he  al»le  to  act  prompt- 
ly and  in  concert.  These  meet  in  ::- 
(Lrreat  uneasiness  to  the  c<»n>ul>.  and  the  Senate 
upbraided  them  in  the  bitterest  terms,  becau-e 
they  did  not  put  a  stop  to  them,  and  make  ex- 


78  EEPUBLIC  OF  EOME. 

Vain  attempts  to  raise  Troops — Dictator  created. 

ainples  of  the  ringleaders.  A  decree  was  now 
'•d,  that  the  consuls  should  enforce  the  lev- 
ies with  the  utmost  strictness.  This  they  ac- 
cordingly attempted,  and,  mounting  the  tribu- 
nal, they  cited  the  younger  citizens  by  their 
names;  but  no  other  answer  was  made  except 
a  shout  from  the  multitude,  "  that  the  common 
people  could  no  longer  be  deceived;  and  that 
not  a  single  soldier  should  be  raised  until  the 
public  engagements  were  fulfilled ;  that  every 
man  must  have  his  liberty  restored,  before  arms 
were  put  into  his  hands,  in  order  that  the  peo- 
ple might  be  convinced  that  they  were  to  fight 
for  their  country  and  fellow-citizens,  not  for 
their  masters." 

It  wa-  evident  enough  to  the  consuls,  that 
neither  they  nor  the  Senate  po>se>-e<l  Miflirieiit 
'•r  to  control  this  determined  multitude; 
so,  after  making  one  or  two  vain  etl'<»rts  to  en- 
force obedience,  they  concluded  to  resign  their 
office  and  create  a  I ) it- tutor. 

The  person  whom  they  selected  wa<  Marcus 
Valerias,  the  In-other  of  Pnblius  Valerius,  who 
had  always  been  a  givat  favorite  of  the  people. 
The  choice  proved  very  acceptable  to  every 
one,  and  he  at  once  gained  the  confidence  of 
all,  by  proclaiming  that  no  person  should  be 
molested  on  account  of  debt,  and  by  promising 


PATH  i « 


The  Enemies  of  Koine  again  defeated— Further  Trouble. 

cmmpaigi 

tin'  difficulties  of  -I/ens 

iii'. iv  irave  in  : 

them>elves  U)  "lied  \\-itliMi;- 

tion.    Ten  legions  were  raised. 

mi   thousand    infantry  and   three   him 

Three   of  these  weiv    placed    under 

I  of  each  consul.  and   t'"nr  i 
tlie  1  ' 

Tli ere  was  no  furtl  The 

UN  were  already  iiivadinir   the   t- 
of  tl.  i  ambassadors  were  in  Rome 

beee<  >c  Senate  to  send  troops  to  the  as- 

si>ta;  'heir   allies.     Th-  .    too, 

-ahines  \\ 

initting  depiv  hainl.     <  )nwanl, 

:it  the   Konian  armies,  led   i?i  dif- 
•  n-i  l»y  i  Ji  and   the  I  ' 

a— ed    in   numliers   l.y 

their  •nij.any  tin-in. 

The    K.|UJllis,    the   V«  and    thi 

ieces,orsent  il;  int:  t«.  their  homes; 

and    the    Konian    lea-.  their 

d  \vith  priory  and   laden  with  tho 

As  soon  as  the  army  had  returnrd  to  K 
the  I  '  \'aleriu->  appean-d  ht-t'..re  the  S»-n- 

and  demanded   of  them  what   course  they 


80  EEPUBLIC   OF   EOME. 

Valerius  resigns  the  Dictatorship. 

intended  to  pursue  in  regard  to  those  persons 
who  were  confined  fur  debt.  In  reply  to  his 
inquiries,  the  Seriate  giving  him  to  understand, 
that  they  were  opposed  to  taking  the  matter 
into  consideration,  Valerius  thus  addressed 
them :  "  My  endeavors,  senators,  to  restore 
concord  are,  I  see,  displeasing  to  you ;  believe 
me,  when  I  solemnly  declare,  that  the  time 
will  shortly  come  when  you  will  wish  that  the 
commons  of  Rome  had  just  such  patrons  as  I 
am ;  as  to  myself,  I  will  neither  be  the  means 
of  further  disappointments  to  the  hopes  of  my 
countrymen,  nor  will  I  hold  the  office  of  Dicta- 
tor without  effect.  Intestine  discord  and  foreign 
wars  made  it  necessary  for  the  commonwealth 
to  have  such  a  magistrate ;  peace  has  been 
procured  ill) road  ;  at  home  it  is  not  suffered  to 
take  place  ;  it  is  my  determination  then,  in  time 
of  sedition,  to  appear  in  the  character  of  a  pri- 
vate citizen,  rather  than  in  that  of  Dictator." 

Having  delivered  this  speech,  he  left  the  Sen- 
ate chamber-,  abdicating  at  the  same  time  the 
dictatorship.  The  common  people,  believing 
that  he  had  resigned  his  office  on  account  of 
the  ill-treatment  which  they  had  received,  at- 
tended him,  as  he  retired  to  his  house,  with 
gratitude  and  applause. 

Upon  the  abdication  of  Valerius,  those  le- 


PATRICIANS  AND  PLEBEIANS.    81 


Retirement  <>f  the  Plebeians  to  Mons  Sacer. 


gions  assigned  to  him  wore  disbanded  accord- 
ing to  custom ;  but  the  other  six  legions  which 
had  been  under  the  command  of  the  coiiMils 
were  still  kept  together,  and  ready  for  service. 
In  order  that  they  might  not  be  broken  up,  the 
•Semite  instructed  the  consuls  to  lead  them  out 
against  the  E<juan>,  who,  they  pretended,  had 
renewed  their  hostilities.  The  design  of  the 
patricians  was,  however,  too  evident,  and  the 
commons  resolved  unanimously,  but  silently, 
that  they  would  no  longer  Milter  themselves  to 
be  deceived.  Obedient  to  the  commands  of 
the  consuls  they  took  up  their  arms,  and, 
inarching  forth  from  the  city,  encamped  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  Anio  near  to  Rome. 

The  day  drawing  to  a  close,  they  lighted 
their  camp-fires  and  made  the  usual  prepara- 
tions for  the  night.  l>ut  as  they  were  all  going 
about,  each  in  the  performance  of  his  respective 
duty,  word  was  passed  around,  from  man  to 
man,  that  none  of  the  commons  should  go  to 
sleep  that  night,  but  be  ready  at  a  signal  to 
follow  their  secret  leaders.  At  the  appointed 
time,  when  the  patricians,  stretched  upon  their 
soft  couches,  were  locked  in  slumber,  they  all 
marched  silently  forth  with  their  arms  and 
standards,  and  took  possession  of  a  fortified 
hill  about  three  miles  distant  from  the  city. 


82  KEPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

The  Patricians  strive  to  bring  them  back. 

The  vexation  of  the  consuls  arid  of  the  offi- 
cers may  be  easily  imagined,  when,  at  the 
break  of  day,  they  discovered  themselves  to 
have  been  entirely  deserted  by  their  troops ;  and 
it  being  no  difficult  matter  to  ascertain  the  direc- 
tion in  which  they  had  gone,  we  cannot  doubt 
that  immediate  measures  were  taken  to  bring 
back  the  deserters  to  their  duty.  The  proud 
patricians  followed,  then,  with  all  speed  in  the 
track  of  their  revolting  army,  and  reaching  the 
base  of  the  hill  where  the  rebels  had  encamped, 
sought,  by  alternate  reproaches  and  promises, 
to  win  them  again  to  obedience. 

"  Enough,  enough !"  shouted  Sicinius,  who 
acted  as  a  leader  among  the  soldiers.  "  How 
have  ye  the  heart,  O  patricians,  to  call  back 
men  whom  ye  yourselves  turn  into  slaves  or 
exiles  ?  How  will  ye  give  us  faith  in  promises 
so  often  broken  as  yours  have  been?  If  ye 
wish  the  city  to  yourselves,  go  hence  unhin- 
dered ;  but  for  us,  our  country  shall  be  that  in 
which  we  can  find  liberty." 

The  consuls  and  the  patricians  were  soon 
convinced  of  their  inability  to  contend  against 
so  much  resolution,  and,  therefore,  quietly 
mounting  their  horses  they  turned  towards 
Borne. 


THE  TRIBUNES  OF  Till-  PEOPLE. 

FROM   491    TO    485    B.  C. 


FEARS  of  the  Patricians — Embassy  to  the  Revolters — Their 
Reception  and  Offers — Discourse  of  Junius  Brutus — Fable 
related  by  Menenius — Reconciliation  of  the  Plebeians — Cun- 
ning of  Brutus — Tribunes  of  the  People  created — Their 
Powers — The  ^Ediles — Famine  in  Rome — Coriolanus — His 
Character — The  Hatred  of  the  People  towards  him — He  is 
cited  before  them — Efforts  made  to  save  him — His  Trial  and 
Condemnation — He  offers  his  Services  to  the  Volsci — He 
goes  to  the  house  of  Tullus  Attius — His  Reception — Enters 
into  the  Service  of  the  Volsci — Marches  against  Rome — Fail- 
ure of  the  different  Embassies  sent  to  him — His  Mother  pre- 
vailed upon  to  intercede  with  him — Her  Appeal  to  him  in 
behalf  of  Rome — Her  Success — Death  of  Coriolanus. 


COBIOLAXUS   AND   HT8  MOTHER. 


IV. 
THE  TRIBUNES  OF  THE   PEnl'LE, 


No  sooner  had  the  news  of  the  revolt  01 

I 

.!<•  the  greatest  commotion.   Those 
nds  and  -s  among  the  reb- 

them  the  greatest  s 
my  cases  undertook  to  join 
:  rifled  by 

tlu-  loss  of  citizens  upon  wln»m  tlu-y  d 
for  defence  and  service,  endeavored  to  retain 
all    \vlm  and,   closing    tlie 

•raised  to  m;  most 

•  fforts  to  bring  back  those  who 

Oft,      Tln-n- 

main.  u-K--<,  M!I.»  fled  to  join  t 

0  UJIMII  tin-  Sacivd  Hill. 

nis  di-<iTtr<l,  was  in  the  utmost 
frnin  its  numerous  foes,  who,  in  time, 
ncr  ,-,f  the  ci\-il  discord  by  which  it  had 


88  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Fears  of  the  Patricians— Embaosy  to  the  Revolters. 

been  rent,  would  be  certain  to  make  it  an  easy 
prey.  To  make  the  best  of  their  condition,  the 
patricians  armed  themselves,  their  clients,  and 
as  many  as  they  could  gather  from  the  lowest 
classes  of  the  plebeians.  They  strengthened 
also  the  gates,  manned  the  towers,  and  set  their 
posts  without  the  walls.  Besides  all  this,  through 
the  temperate  counsels  of  the  wiser  patricians, 
it  was  resolved  to  send  an  embassy  to  the  re- 
volters,  who  still  remained  upon  the  hill  by  the 
river  Anio,  increasing  daily  in  number,  and 
procuring  such  fond  and  shelter  as  the  neigh- 
boring lands  afl'onU-d.  It  may  be  easily  im- 
agined that  the  revolteiv  themselves  were  quite 
as  anxious  as  the  patricians  to  become  recon- 
ciled with  their  countn  men,  for  it  was  not  very 
probable  that  they  could  form  a  more  agree- 
able alliance;  and  the  means  of  gaining  a  sub- 
sistence, after  the  harvests  around  them  had 
been  reaped,  would  be  very  scanty  indeed. 

"When,  therefore,  the  commissioners,  sent  by 
the  Senate,  came  within  sight  of  the  hill,  the 
whole  throng  of  revolters  descended  to  meet 
them.  At  their  head  was  Sicinius,  whose  name 
has  been  already  mentioned,  and  Juuius  Bm- 
tns,  a  very  quick-witted  and  self-esteeming  per- 
Bonage.  At  the  head  of  the  embassy  was  Me- 
iienius  Agrippa,  whose  oft-hand  eloquence  had 


TUIBTNKS    OF    Tl  OPLE.          Bi 

Reception  of  the  Embus/. 

made   him   a   general   favorite   at    Rome.      He 
had,  moreover,  sprung  from  tlie  plebeians  him- 
self, and  was,  therefore,  a  very  suitaMe  person 
intrusted  with  Mich  a  matter. 

Reaching  the  great  multitude   that  ll<>< 
down  the  hill  to  meet  him  and  his  associates, 
he  made  known  to  them  at  once  the  wi>hes  of 
id  In-sought  them  to  return  peace- 
fully to  Rome.     But   the  plebeians   who  had 
heen  apprised  of  the  approach  of  the  embassy, 
determined  to  cross  at  tiist  t; 
tin-  c<>m;:  B,  and,  by  rai-ing  <»b-tae 

union  and  ju-ace,  to  train  e\vry  p-.s-ible  advan- 
iiiiLrly,  wlien  they  had  >tated  their 
message  from  ftte,  Juntas  BrntOi  imme- 

diately cried  out:  uTh€  Senate  betray  their 
are  masters  if  we  know  how  to  im- 
prove this  opportunity;  speak,  then,  all  that  \  <  .u 
to  say,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  answer,  in 
the  name  of  my  comrade-,  in  -uch  a  way  as 
will  be  equally  useful  and  airiveable  to  tl; 

It  was  tlu-ivu|>on  agreed  that  the  COU 
sioners  and  the  multitude  should  reascend  the 
hill  and  talk  the  matter  over  in  the  camp. 
Having  here  arranged  themselves  in  the  most 
convenient  manner,  both  for  speaking  and  list- 
ening, M.  Valerius  began  the  negotiation  by 
offering,  in  the  name  of  the  Senate,  pardon  to 


REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 


Otters  to  the  Eevolters—  Deliberations. 


all  the  revolters,  and,  at  the  same  time,  an 
earnest  appeal  to  them  to  return  to  the  city, 
where  their  wives  and  children  were  sighing 
for  their  embraces. 

This  speech  was  replied  to  by  Sicinius,  who 
urged  that,  before  the  people  consented  to  this, 
it  was  but  just  that  they  themselves  should 
open  their  grievances,  and  know  what  they 
might  hope  from  the  fine  promises  of  the  Sen- 
ate. Closing  his  harangue  with  a  call  upon 
the  soldiers  to  defend  the  public  liberty,  he 
was  i  inn  KM!  lately  followed  by  Junius  Brutus, 
who  a<l<livs>txl  himself  to  the  multitude  in  such 
a  way  as  to  encourage  them  in  their  revolt, 
and  to  increase  in  them  a  hatred  of  the  patri- 
cians, who  wore  already  beginning  to  feel  the 
want  of  their  protection  and  their  service. 
Then,  turning  towards  the  ambassadors,  he 
cried  out:  "You  invite  us  to  return  to  Rome, 
but  you  do  not  tell  us  upon  what  conditions. 
You  talk  to  us  of  nothing  but  pardon  and  for- 
giveness, as  if  we  were  your  subjects,  and  sub- 
jects in  rebellion  ;  but  that  is  the  point  to  be 
decided.  The  question  is  —  Which  is  in  the 
fault,  the  people  or  the  Senate  ?  which  of  these 
two  orders  first  violated  that  common  society 
which  ought  to  subsist  between  the  citizens  of 
one  and  the  same  republic  '." 


TRIBUNES  OF  THE  PKOPLE.       91 

Discourse  of  Junius  Brutus. 

In  a  long  oration,  he  thru  related  t<»  them  a, 
number  of  facts  by  which  he  >ho\\-ed  the  con- 
tinued devotion  of  tlie  commons  to  the  higher 

nd  the  self-sacrificing  spirit  which  they 
}jad  ever  inn1  in  their  behalf;  and  con- 

cluded by  asking  them  to  show  what   reeom- 

» commons  had  ever  ,  for  their 

assistance.      "Instead  of  assi>t;u  1  he, 

"have  not  our  bravest  soldiers,  oppn--ed  with 
the  weight  of  usury,  groaned  beneath  tin-  chains 
of  their  nu-iviK^s  creditors?  Have  not  y«>ur 
promises  to  relieve  us  been  forgotten,  and  have. 
not  our  services  bei-n  denied  I  Sutler  us  then, 
to  depart  from  a  country  when-  v. 
like  >o  many  slaves;  and,  so  long  as  we  have 
oursw.'nU  in  our  hands,  we  shall  be  able  to 
open  for  ourselves  a  way  into  more  fortunate 

C'lill: 

Every  one  of  the  multitude,  by  his  looks  and 
'tied  to  the  truth  of  these  words; 
and  many  came  forward  and  showed  the  marks 
of  the  stripes  and  injuries  which  they  had  re- 
ceived.    T.  Largiu-.  the  head  of  the  embassy, 
endeavored  to  justify  the  conduct  of  the  patri- 
-  and  of  the  creditors;  but  he  only  made 
the  matter  worse,  and  even  pmv"ked  Sicinius 
to  inteiTupt  his  speech,  and  to  order  him  and 
his  fellow  commissioners  to  propose  the  condi- 


92  KEPUBLIC   OF   KOME. 

Conciliatory  Speech  of  Menenius— A  Fable. 

tions  which  they  were  empowered  to  make,  or 
to  leave  the  camp  at  once. 

This  brought  out  Menenius,  a  man  of  great 
prudence  and  penetration,  who,  in  a  speech  full 
of  moderation  and  wisdom,  was  able  to  win  the 
attention  and  respect  of  the  multitude.  He 
stated  to  them  that  the  Senate  had  carefully 
inquired  into  the  poverty  of  the  plebeians  and 
the  severity  of  their  creditors,  and  that  it  was 
their  determination  to  annul  all  obligations, 
and  to  declare  the  poor  citizens  free  of  all  man- 
ner of  debts.  Taking  advantage  of  the  soften- 
ing influence  of  his  words,  he  represented  to 
them  how  necessary  it  was  to  the  State  that  one 
part  of  the  citizens  should  be  richer  than  an- 
other, and  enforced  this  maxim  by  relating  to 
them  the  following  fable :  "  At  a  time  when 
the  members  of  the  human  body  did  not,  as  at 
present,  all  unite  in  one  plan,  but  each  member 
had  its  own  scheme  and  its  own  language,  the 
other  parts  were  provoked  at  seeing  that  the 
fruits  of  all  their  care  were  applied  to  the  use 
of  the  stomach ;  and  that  the  stomach  mean- 
while remained  at  its  ease,  and  did  nothing  but 
enjoy  the  pleasures  provided  for  it.  On  this 
they  conspired  together,  that  the  hands  should 
not  bring  food  to  the  mouth,  nor  the  mouth 
receive  it  if  offered,  nor  the  teeth  chew  it. 


TRIBUNES  OF  THE   PEOPLE.       93 

The  Plebeians  reconciled — Cunning  of  Hrutus. 

"While  they  wished,  through  these  angry  meas- 
ures, to  subdue  the  >t<>niach  through  hunger, 
the  members  and  the  whole  body  were,  to^vther 
with  it,  reduced  to  the  last  stage  of  deca\. 
From  thence  it  appeared  that  the  ollire  of  the 
stomach  itself  was  not  confined  to  a  slothful 
indolence  ;  that  it  not  only  received  noiirish- 
inent.  hut  supplied  it  to  tlie  others,  conveying 
to  every  part  of  the  Imdy  that  blood  <»n  which 
depend-  «uir  life  and  vigor,  by  distributing  it 
e(|iially  thnuiirh  the  vein>,  after  having  brought 
it  to  perfection  by  digestion  of  th 

Making  an  application  <»f  this  fable  t»>  the 
present  ease,  and  showing  the  great  similarity 
between  the  dissension  of  the  membei-s  and  the 
imeiit  <>f  the  commons  airain-t  the  patri- 
cians, he  made  a  powerful  impression  upon  the 
people.  "Receive  our  embraces  as  the  lirst 
fruits  of  peace,"  said  he,  "  and  let  us  enter  all 
together  into  Eome ;  let  us  jointly  carry  thither 
the  first  news  of  our  reunion ;  and  may  the  gods 
AN  ho  protect  this  empire,  grant  that  it  may  be 
hereafter  celebrated  by  new  victories !" 

All  the  people,  moved  by  this  speech,  cried 
out  to  Menenius  that  they  were  satisfied,  and 
that  lie  might  lead  them  back  to  Rome.  But 
the  cunning  Brutus  checked  their  sudden  trans- 
port, and  insisted  upon  having  some  pledge  of 


EEPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 


Tribunes  of  the  People  created. 


the  sincerity  of  the  patricians.  "  Grant  us," 
said  he,  "some  officers  chosen  out  of  the  body 
of  the  plebeians  !  We  ask  for  them  neither 
purple  robes,  nor  the  curule  chair,  nor  the  lie- 
tors;  but  let  them  have  the  power  to  hinder 
the  injustices  that  may  be  done  to  the  people, 
and  to  defend  their  interests,  both  public  and 
private." 

This  demand  took  the  commissioners  by  sur- 
prise ;  and  having  conferred  together  on  the 
subject,  they  agreed  that  this  exceeded  the 
bounds  of  their  instructions,  but  that  some  of 
them  would  go  back  to  the  city  and  obtain  the 
answer  of  the  Senate.  The  distance  not  being 
great,  and  the  Senate  being  easily  convened.  it 
was  determined,  after  some  discussion,  to  end 
the  dispute  by  allowing  the  Plebeians  to  elect 
yearly  from  their  number  certain  magistrates, 
who  were  to  be  called  T-rifainca  of  the  People. 
Before  leaving  their  camp  upon  the  hill,  they 
accordingly  elected,  for  the  first  Tribunes,  L. 
Jnnius  Brutus',  and  C.  Licinins  Bellutus,  the 
leaders  of  the  revolt*  And  now  having  noth- 
ing to  detain  them  any  longer  from  Eome,  they 
first  performed  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods  upon  the 

*  Livy  says  that  C.  Licinius  and  Lucius  Albenus  were  the 
first  Tribunes,  and  that  they  created  three  colleagues,  one  of 
W1  Qin  was  Sicinius. 


TRIBUNES  OF   THE   PEOPLE.       95 

Powers  of  the  Tribunes. 

hill,  which  they  afterwards  culled  Mons  Saivr; 
ami  then,  led  hy  their  Tribunes  ami  the  r.>m- 
mi-Moners.  they  went  to  the  embraces  of  their 

The   establishment   of  the   Tribnneship  was 
another  change  in  the  form  of  the  government 
«.f  Rome,      l-'rom  a  monarchy  to  a  kind  «.f  aris- 
•y,   it    was   by   >l-»w   steps   approach! 

denoera 

The  Tribunes,  it  is  true,  had  little  in  their 
appearance   to   awaken    any  appivlu -!i>i-  ' 
the   part   of  the   proud   patricians.      They 
dre— ed  like  the  plainest  C  .-ilteiided  only 

hy  a  .-Siiir'e  ft  ;ile«l  ri,ttni\  and  never  ad- 

mitted in-idi'  pt  on 

invitation.      1  had  ihe  riirht  to  oppose 

and   wholly  nullify  the  decrees -of  thi-  a 

:nir  the  little  J.atiu   \ 
^Iforbidit;  and  this  they 
wrote  at  the  bottom  of  these  decrees,  when  thev 
thought   them   contrary  to  the   liberty  of  the 
!e.     This  was  a  simple  and   unobjection- 
able  means  of  preventing  oppre  —  ion  ;    but   it 
will  in  the  end  that,  under  pretence  of 

securinir  the  liberty  of  the  people,  these  humble 
magi-  _rn  of  ruining  the 

authority  of  the  Senate.  It  wa-  not  l,mg  bi-tore 
they  obtained  permission  to  choose,  as  their  as- 


96  KEPUBLIC   OF   KOME. 

The  ^Ediles— Famine  in  Koine— Coriolan us. 

sistants,  two  plebeians,  with  the  title  of  aediles, 
who,  from  acting  as  their  agents,  finally  became 
in-pectors  of  the  public  edifices,  baths,  aque- 
ducts, &c.  Still  Home  presented  every  appear- 
ance of  repose,  and  the  friendly  feelings  be- 
tween the  plebeians  and  the  patricians  seemed 
to  be  sincere  and  durable.  But  the  fire  of  di- 
vision had  not  been  wholly  quenched. 

During  the  consulate  which  followed  the  re- 
volt, a  terrible  famine  occurred,  and,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  all  kinds  of  provisions  were  sold 
at  an  excessively  high  price.  Bitter  complaints 
were  made  on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  it  was 
commonly  believed  that  the  patricians,  having 
their  granaries  full,  had  occasioned  the  public 
dearth,  in  order  to  make  up  to  themselves  the 
abolition  of  the  debts.  This  opinion  was  very 
much  strengthened,  too,  by  the  conduct  of  Mar- 
cius  ('oriohmus,  an  avowed  enemy  of  the  power 
of  the  Tribunes.  "If  the  plebeians  wish  to  have 
provisions  at  the  usual  price,"  said  he,  "let 
them  restore  te  the  patricians  their  former 
rights.  Why  am  I  obliged,  after  being  sent 
under  the  yoke — after  being  ransomed,  as  it 
were,  from  robbers — to  behold  plebeian  magis- 
trates, to  behold  Sicinius  invested  with  power 
and  authority?  The  road  is  open  to  the  Sacred 
Mount,  and  to  other  hills ;  let  them  carry  off 


TRIBTNKS   OF   THE   PKOPLE.      97 


The  Character  of  Coriolanua. 


tin-  (M»rn  from  our  land-,  as  tlu-v  did   two  \ 
ago." 

This  Marcius  Coriolaini-  wa-  !ed  tVoin 

one  of  tlu-  in«'st  illu>trions  patrician  families  in 
Koine,  lie  liad  l>eeii  brought  up  with  <rreat 
by  his  mother,  Yetnria.  a  woman  of  noted 
austerity,  wlio  liad  taken  every  pains  to  inspire, 
him  with  her  own  sentiments  At  an  early 
<L  he  r-howed  irre::t  capacity  t'..r  tin-  art  of 
war.  JndetMl,  he  receive(l  the  surname  of  Co- 
riolamis  tor  liavinir  tlUtiniriiisluMl  liiin-elf  so 
mueli  in  tlie  capture  of  ('orioli,  one  of  the  c 
of  the  Vnlx-i,  which  lie  set  on  tire  with  his  own 
hand,  pcrformim:  at  the  -arnc  time  many  val- 

-  of  manner  wa-, 

however,  so  great,  that  he  could  never  make 
him-elf  a  favorite  anioii«r  tlie  people,  wlm, 
while  they  admiivd  his  val«>r,  his  upright 

and  his  generosity,  dreaded  his  severity  and  his 

pride.  When  he  wi-hrd  the  c. .nsuUhip,  the 
])!eheia!is  tln-refore  iv fused  to  him  their  \ 
and  for  this  remsOB  he  ever  entertained  for 
them  the  irreate-t  liatred.  It  is  not  surju^in^, 
then,  that  lie  .-Imuld  have  endeavored  to  avenge, 
liimself  iijion  the  plebeians,  at  a  time  when 
their  poverty  threw  them  so  completely  in  his 
power. 

The  speech  of  Coriolanus,  just  now  quoted, 
7 


98  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Hatred  of  the  People  towards  Coriolanus. 

was  highly  applauded  by  the  younger  senators, 
who  openly  advocated  the  abolishment  of  the 
Tiibuneship;  but  the  Tribunes,  on  the  other 
hand,  who  happened  to  be  present  by  invita- 
tion, were  very  much  incensed ;  and  assem- 
bling the  people  tumultuously,  they  cried  out 
that  the  patricians  had  made  a  league  to  de- 
stroy them,  their  wives  and  their  children, 
unless  the  plebeians  delivered  their  magistrates, 
chained,  into  the  hands  of  Coriolanus.  They 
declared  that  he  was  a  second  tyrant  rising  up 
in  the  Republic,  and  aiming  at  their  death  or 
slavery. 

The  plebeians  had  now,  however,  acquired 
so  much  power  that  they  no  longer  entertained 
the  idea  of  deserting,  as  upon  a  former  occa- 
sion, but  rather  of  making  a  trial  of  their 
strength  with  the  patricians  in  the  very  centre 
of  Koine  it-elf.  Nothing  now  but  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  enemies  could  be  thought  of;  hut, 
that  the  forms  of  justice  might  be  observed, 
they  summoned  Coriolanus  to  come  and  an- 
swer for  his  conduct  before  an  assembly  of  the 
people.  But  this  proud  senator  sending  back 
their  officer  with  contempt,  they  Availed  for 
him  at  the  door  of  the  Senate,  in  order  to  seize 
him  when  he  should  come  out.  As  he  made 
his  appearance,  therefore,  the  a^diles  were  or- 


TRIBUNES   OF   TFIK    PKOPLE.      99 

Treatment  of  Corioltnus. 

dered  to  lead  him  to  prison  ;  l»ut  the  command 
WM  n-'t  an  easy  one  t«»  execute,  for  Coriulanus 
and  his  friend-  .-to,»d  upon  their  defence,  ami, 
liMiig  well  their  li.Ms.  forced  the  ffidiles  to  make 
a  quick  retivat.  A  general  disturhanee  im- 
mediately ensued,  in  which  the  plebeians  on 
one  side,  and  the  patricians  on  the  other,  com- 
abusing  and  reproaching  one  another 
in  tl.i  .  In  the  in\(\>{  of  it  the 

;ls  arrived,  and  by  means  of  entreat:. 
well  as  by  their  authority,  succeeded  in  dis- 
persing, the    multitude  and  sending  them   to 
their  lion 

Hut  the  pleheia  -ions  of  their  power, 

had  determined  not  so  easily  to  abandon  their 
iraine.  On  the  following  day,  therefore,  they 
ibled  in  crowds  at  the  Konim  to  talk  over 
their  irrievance-,  and  to  contrive  plans  H»r  rem- 
edying them.  The  patricians  also  asseml.)lt'<l 
with  them,  and  the  conduct  of  Coriolanus  be- 
inir  the  exciting  theme,  much  was  said  by 
both  parties  fur  and  a-ain-t  him.  Coriolanus 
himself  was  there:  and  being  called  upon  to 
M  had  been  stated  by  his  friends,  that  he 
wa<  willing  to  a-k  pardon  if  he  had  done 
wrong,  he  inveighed  more  violently  than  ever 
against  the  enterpri>es  of  the  Tribunes,  and  de- 
clared boldly,  that  the  people  had  no  right  to 


100  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Coriolanus  cited  before  the  People. 

judge  a  senator ;  that  the  consuls  and  the  Sen- 
ate alone  had  a  right  to  call  him  to  account  for 
his  behavior. 

A  serious  attempt  would  have  been  made  to 
destroy  him  at  once,  had  not  the  cunning  Bru- 
tus perceived  that  the  people  were  not,  at  the 
moment,  in  a  mood  to  lay  hands  upon  him  and 
to  drag  him  from  the  midst  of  his  numerous 
compeers.  This  individual  then  holding  a  brief 
consultation  with  the  Tribune  Sicinius,  the  lat- 
ter cried  out :  "  You  see,  O  Romans,  that  it  is 
not  the  fault  of  the  patricians  that  much  blood 
is  not  shed  to-day,  and  that  they  are  ready  to 
come  to  the  greatest  extremity  to  rescue  the  de- 
clared enemies  of  the  Roman  people  out  of  the 
hands  of  justice.  But  it  is  our  duty  to  set  them 
better  examples:  we  will  do  nothing  rashly. 
Though  tlu-  criminal  is  sufficiently  convicted 
liv  his  own  coni'i'SHon,  we  are  yet  willing  to 
give  him  time  to  prepare  his  defence.  We  cite 
thee,"  added  he,  addressing  himself  to  Coriola- 
nus, "  to  appear  before  the  people  in  seven  and 
twenty  days.  As  to  the  distribution  of  the 
corn,  if  the  Senate  does  not  take  due  care  of 
that  matter,  the  Tribunes  will  give  directions 
about  it  themselves." 

It  was  very  hard  for  the  Senate  to  yield  to 
such  an  extraordinary  measure ;  but  agreeably 


T  BIB  015  >PLE.      101 


Efforts  to  save  Coriolanus  from  the  People. 


t«.   tlio     I  mail  having   the 

t<>  appeal   t«»  the  people  lr«»m  th< 
ot'tln- 

H     I'M!'     thrill     ' 

It   \va3  not  a  single  pie' 

tliat   complained,   but   tin*  whole   body   <>f  the 
ii  pruph',  who  were  demandlm:  the  con- 
ati-.n  nf  a  tyrant  who  had  been  cha 
with    atteni]>: 

uniiie,  and  with  having  pn»i»'^i  <1   the  abo- 
liti«»n  of  the  trilniiu'-liij>,   a  ina^i-tracy  made 

'1  I iv  the  most  solemn  oa 
A)»).iu-  ( 'hiudius  and  other  j»atrieian>  did  all 
in  thrir  i».»\\er  t«»  >av«-  •  Din  tV->ni  th« 

.onMd  M.  \'ah-riu^  Ix-lievinir  that 
_:  go  some  little  <•!'  it<  au- 

tlmritv.  WMiil-:  tlu-   durati-'ii   <>t'  it,   and 

wtiuld  be  more  likely  !••  di-ann 
tin*  j.e-.]»K'">  rage  against  the  illii-:ri«»us  crim- 
inal thazi  1'V  all'-wiii^  them  t..  jud^**  him.  turn- 
ed t"  •  ii-h:  him  in  the  im>-t 
teudi-r  maim  a  peace  to  t  .blio. 

-aid    he;    uoH»-r   you 
•  tlie  jud_Lrnn-nt  ••!'  the  jK-i.j.le  :    this 
is  the  only  liMim::  ;.    nf  ju-tityiii_«r  ynur- 

tC6    tlmsc 

•\vli<.»  \nii  f.f  aiming  at  tyranny.     The 

1  with  beholding  so  great  a  soul 


102  Ft  E  PUBLIC     OF     ROME. 

The  advice  of  Valerius  to  Coriolanus. 

bowing  under  the  power  of  their  Tribunes,  can 
never  bring  themselves  to  pronounce  sentence 
of  condemnation  upon  Coriolanus.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  you  show  contempt  for  the  tribu- 
nals of  the  people,  you  will  become  the  fatal 
torch  ;  and  who  can  tell  how  far  the  flame  may 
run.  Set  Rome,  therefore,  before  your  eyes, 
and  give  it  an  exhibition  of  your  love." 

The  minds  of  many  of  the  senators  being 
thus  disposed  to  peace  by  the  speech  of  Vale- 
rius, they  united  with  him,  beseeching  Coriola- 
nus to  yield  himself  to  a  trial  by  the  people. 
"  You  know,  Conscript  Fathers,"  replied  Co- 
riolanus, addressing  the  senators,  "what  the 
whole  course  of  my  life  has  hitherto  been. 
You  know  that  this  obstinate  hatred  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  that  unjust  persecution  which  I  now 
suffer  from  it,  are  occasioned  only  by  the  in- 
violable zeal  which  I  have  always  shown  for 
the  interests  of  this  body.  I  will  not  insist, 
upon  the  returns  I  now  meet  with ;  the  event 
will  show  tin- weak  ness  and  perhaps  the  malice 
of  the  counsels  which  are  given  you  in  this  af- 
fair. But  since  Valerius's  opinion  has  at  length 
prevailed,  let  me  know,  at  least,  what  is  the 
crime  that  I  am  charged  with,  and  upon  what 
conditions  I  am  delivered  over  to  the  fury  of 
my  adversaries." 


TRIP. INKS  oi  PEOPLE. 


• 


After  some  consultation,  the  Tribunes  agreed 

that  they  would  confine  their  whole  accusation 

to  the  single  crime  of  tyranny.     "  If  it  U 

replied    (JoriolaniN,    "and    1    have   nothing   to 

disprove  but  a  calumny  so  ill-grounded,  I  free- 

ly  yield  myself  to  the  judgment  «»f  the  people." 

Thus,  with  the  consent  of  all  parties,  the  de- 

Hlfl  rigned,  allowing  ('«n-i«»laiius  >even  and 

twenty    .;,  pivparc    his    detence. 

when   the  day  arrived,  an  iniinense  multitude 

crowded    the    Forum    at   an   early   hour.      The 

friends  of  C'oriolanns   lah«nv<l    faithfully  in  his 

In-half;   while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Trilmncs 

and   all    his  <  did  every  tiling  in  their 

r  to  accomplish  his  destruction.     ('«-ri«»la- 

lius  him-elf  answered  the  >u<picioii<  which  had 

uj.on  him.   l.y  a  >imi»le   narratio 

He   u'ave  an  account  of  all  the 

en-a-viiiriit-    in    which    lie    had    taken     part, 

showed  the  wound-,  which  he  had  received,  the, 

military  honor>  which  his  general-  had  l»e~tow- 

ed  upon  him.  and   named   the  several   posts  in 

the  army  through  which  he  had  successively 

i.     lie   then   called   upon   the   multitude 

:it,  even  citing  many  of  them  l»y  name, 

and  demanded  if  they  could  not  t«-ti!y  to  the 

truth  of  what  lie  said. 

A  great  deal  of  feeling  was  manifested  by  his 


104:  REPUBLIC   or  ROME. 


His  Defence  and  Condemnation. 


old  comrades  in  arms,  and  many  among  the 
plebeians  shouted  out  in  his  behalf.  But  the 
Tribune  Decius  rising  up,  made  a  most  power- 
ful speech  against  him,  in  which  he  endeavored 
to  show  that  Coriolanus  had,  upon  a  certain 
occasion,  defrauded  the  soldiers  of  their  booty, 
and  had  distributed  it  among  his  friends.  He 
called  upon  many  to  testify  to  the  fact,  and, 
succeeding  in  turning  the  current  of  popular 
feeling  against  Coriolanus,  called  for  the  judg- 
ment of  the  people,  which  was  promptly  given, 
and  Coriolanus  was  condemned  to  perpetual 
banishment. 

The  greatest  consternation  prevailed  imme- 
diately among  the  patricians.  This  feeling  was 
succeeded  by  rage  and  indignation ;  and  Vale- 
rius was  bitterly  reproached  for  having  misled 
them  by  his  artful  discourses.  Coriolanus,  how- 
ever, with  an  appearance  of  the  utmost  uncon- 
cern, left  the  assembly,  went  to  his  house, 
where  he  found  his  wTife  and  mother  bathed  in 
tears.  Exhorting  them  to  bear  with  patience 
this  reverse  of  fortune,  he  bade  them  farewell, 
and  refusing  to  take  with  him  a  single  attend- 
ant, walked  out  of  the  gates  of  Rome,  without 
speaking  one  word  to  the  many  friends  who 
followed  in  his  footsteps. 

The  people,  of  course,  testified  great  joy  on 


T  R  1  HI"  N  E  S     OF     T  II  K     J '  E  O  P  L  E  .       105 


He  offers  his  Services  to  the  Volsci. 


account  of  this  decided  triumph  over  the1  Sen- 
ate. Hitherto  dependent  upon  the  patricians, 
they  were  now  hec<>me  their  judges,  and  had. 
obtained  a  right  to  decide  the  fate  <>t'the  great- 
est in  the  commonwealth.  A  terrible  triumph 
for  them  it  was.  as  we  shall  presently  behold. 

After  leaving  Koine,  ('oriolanns  wandered 
about,  indifferent  a>  to  the  >p»t  which  should 
oifer  him  an  asylum,  provided  only  that  he 
could  lind  the  means  and  opportuniti* 
avenging  his  wrongs.  Looking  around  for  the 
mo>t  powerful  enemy  of  Koine,  he  finally  de- 
termined to  offer  his  service-  to  the  Yol-ei, 
and,  if  possible,  to  stir  them  np  to  war.  This 
nation,  bordering  upon  Koine,  had  always  op- 
i  it  with  remarkable  courage,  but  never 
with  much  succex.  The  Romans  had  taken 
from  them,  at  different  times,  a  great  deal  of 
their  territory,  and  they  had  been  compelled, 
not  long  before,  to  sue  for  a  truce  of  two  y» 
in  order  to  repair  their  broken  strength.  Co- 
riolanus  himself  had,  more  than  once,  cut  to 
pieces  their  troops  and  ravaged  their  country ; 
and  his  name  was  a  terror  throughout  all  their 
borders.  And  their  very  ruler,  Tullus  Attius, 
having  been  beaten  by  him  in  several  engage- 
ments, it  seemed  the  height  of  madness  for  him 
to  venture  in  their  midst.  Hut  Toi-mlanus 


106  EEPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

His  appearance  at  the  house  of  Tullus  Attius. 

thirsted  for  revenge,  and  determined  to  obtain 
it  in  the  speediest  and  most  certain  manner,  or 
die  in  the  attempt. 

Disguising  himself,  then,  he  one  evening  en- 
tered Antium,  the  chief  city  of  the  Volsci.  and 
proceeded  immediately  to  the  house  of  Tullus. 
Entering  it  without  speaking  a  single  word,  lie 
took  a  seat  by  the  domestic  hearth — a  place, 
sacred  in  all  the  houses  of  anci<-nt  paganism. 
The  servants,  astonished  at  >m-!i  extraordinary 
conduct,  and  struck  by  his  majestic,  air.  ran  to 
tell  their  master.  Tullus  immediately  appeared, 
and  demanded  of  him  who  lie  was,  and  what 
lie  required. 

"If  thou  dost  not  know  me,"  he  replied,  UI 
am  Cains  Marcius;  my  surname  is  CWiolanus, 
the  only  reward  left  me  of  all  my  service-.  I 
am  bani>hcd  from  K<>me  by  the  batred  of  the 
people,  and  the  pusillanimity  of  the  great  :  I 
seek  revenge:  it  lies  in  thy  power  to  employ 
my  sword  against  my  foes  and  thy  c<>imtrvV. 
If  thy  republic  will  not  accept  of  my  Ben 
I  give  my  life  into  thy  hands;  put  an  end  to 
an  old  enemy,  that  may  else  come  to  do  more 
mischief  to  thy  country." 

Tullus  was,  of  course,  in  great  ama/.ement,  but 
in  a  moment  comprehend  ing  all,  he  stretched  to 
him  his  hand,  and  said:  ".Fear  nothing,  Mar- 


TRIBI 

The  Volsci  seek  a  pretext  for  W«r  with  Rome. 

'Mr     pledge    lif    tl: 

curitv.      I'.v  if,  tliou  i/ivi-M  us 

And 

_rly  we  shall  have  can'  to  ackn«>\\ 
'•  than  thy  l'ell«>v. 

:-Miii  the 

Tlu-y  a-  frsa- 

D  loriniiiir  the  1'ollow- 
i.lan  I'-i*  n-!:  w  ith  the  Ro- 

mans, -which  h:i'l  'h-«i  1-y  ih«'  i 

•:ilie«l,  u: 

to  conver  ce  into  a  solid  jn-aci-  IK  t 

the   t  "iis,  that  imbMMMlon  should    l»e 

and  unly  this  one  condi- 

.  a  restitution  of  the  lands  which 

had  been  taken  t  n  at  different   times; 

a  tiling  which    1  \v   that   the   liuinans 

•  to  d<  >. 

rl'hi-  plan  having  been  approved  by  the  V.,1- 

.bassadors  were  selected  and 

d  to  Rome,  and  in  the  mean  time,  the 

:ve  preparations  were  made  for  war. 

A-  a  matter  of  course  the  Senate  of  Rome  re- 

fiiM'd  t->   re-ton-   the   territory  which   t] 

taken  by  c<»n<jik->t   tn»m  the  Volsci,  an<l  their 

reply  t«>  the  ;;  A  a-,  that  if  the  Volsci 

HUM  liiM.   i  w.uld   lay   them 


108  UK  PUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Coriolanns  marches  against  Rome. 

down  last.  A  declaration  of  war  followed  at 
once,  and  Tullus,  remaining  at  home  with  a 
large  body  of  troops,  sent  Coriolanus  at  the 
head  of  the  army  into  the  Rnman  territory. 
So  rapid  and  unexpected  were  all  his  proceed- 
ings, that  the  citio  against  which  he  inarched 
had  neither  time  nor  courage  to  defend  them- 
selves. The  towns  of  Same-inn,  Longnlinn,  !'<»- 
lusca,  and  (Jorioli,  were  taken  from  the  Ro- 
mans in  quick  succession;  so  al>«>  were  Cm-bin, 
Yin-Ilium,  Trebia,  Labicum,  and  1'edum.  The 
citizens  of  Bola,  more  obstinate  than  the  other.-, 
were  put  to  the  sword,  and  the  wlmlo  country 
was  plundered  and  devastated.  The  lmu-es 
and  e>iatr>  of  the  ]>atrieians,  by  order  of  Co- 
rinlanus.  were,  however,  .-pared,  a  eireunistance 
which  greatly  inilanie*!  the  plebeians. 

Such  continual  success  inspiivtl  the  snldiers 
of  Coriolanus,  who,  finding  nn  army  in  the 
field  t«»  npp.ise  his  doigns,  advanced  upon  La- 
viniuni,  took  it,  and,  coining  within  five  miles 
of  Koine,  encamped  his  army. 

The  consternation  at  Rome  wa-  great  indeed. 
No  one  had  the  courage  to  fight,  and  no  one 
was  found  capable  of  leading.  The  people  ran 
up  and  down  on  all  sides,  begging  that  means 
nhould  l»e  taken  to  bring  aU.ut  a  peace,  and 
they  even  expressed  a  wish  to  annul  the  ten- 


TRIBI  r   THK    PlOPLE.     109 

^         __«_L_  _   _u -,      _          .  _       i-.-n     -    -          rr_ 

Terror  of  the  Roman  People. 

tence  passed  upon  Cori«>lanus  ami  t<»  recall  him 
from  hi-  exile.   The  Senate,  howev<  sedto 

do  this  saying,  that    Rome  w«»uld   never  grant 
any  thing  to  a  rebel  eo  long  as  be  remained  in 

This  decision  coining  to  tlie  ears  of  Cori<>la- 
nus,  la*  immediately   broke  up   his  camp,  and 
niaivliing   to    the   city,  pr- 
At  >ight  of  8ucb  a  daring  procectliug,  tin-  pa- 
tht*    j.cupK-    l.ccaine    still    nmrc 
alarnu-*!.     Hesolution  entirely  taih-il  them. 
they  jniiu-d  together  in  sending  a  <h-pntati«»n  to 

_r  of  five  men  of 
dignity.     Unt  the  haughty  general  would 

«liti.»n  that   K"me 

should  restore  to  the  Volsci  tin-  t<-rrit<»rv  \\hich 

it  bad  taken  t'n»m  them.     At  the  earnest  re- 

:   of  the  deputies,  he  granted  the  city  a- 

•hirty  day<,  at   the  end  «>!'  wliidi   time 

again  at  the  gates  of  Rom •  . 
Other  dr|>:  !'0  now  Pent   t«»   him,  who 

•ight    him    not    t-  any   thing  whicli 

might  imt  be  agreeable  t<»  the  dignity  «.f  Kome; 
but  he  persisted  obstinately  in  his  demand,  and 
threatened  the  destruction  of  the  city  it 
did  not  comply  within  three  d 

Terror  now  took  possession  of  the   Roman-, 
and  they  appeared  willing  to  do  any  thing  to 


110  EEPUBLIC  OF  HOME. 

Ambassadors  sent  to  Coriolanus. 

avert  the  evil  which  awaited  them.  The  priests, 
the  augurs,  and  the  guardians  of  the  sacred 
things,  dressed  in  their  ceremonial  robes, 
marched  in  procession  to  the  camp,  and  bei 
Coriolanus  by  the  respect  that  he  owed  to  the 
gods,  and  by  all  that  was  sacred  in  religion,  to 
grant  to  his  country  peace.  He  made  to  them, 
however,  the  same  stern  reply,  adding  that, 
in  »t withstanding  their  belief  that  the  gods  de- 
cived  the  empire  of  the  world  to  Borne,  pr. 
appearances  were  iniieli  against  it,  and  that  he 
\va-  sure  of  carrying  the  town. 

The  disappointed  priests  returned,  and  ma- 
king known  the  result  of  their  mission,  the  men 
women  and  children,  bathed  in  tears,  flocked 
to  tin-  temples  to  implore  the  gods  to  save  their 
country.  Moved  by  a  sort  of  divine  inspira- 
tion, a  lady  named  Valeria,  accompanied  by  a 
great  number  of  women,  went  to  the  house  of 
Yeturia,  the  mother  of  Coriolanus,  where  they 
found  her,  as  well  as  his  wife,  bitterly  deplor- 
ing the  misfortunes  of  Rome. 

"We  are  Eoman  ladies,"  said  Valeria,  as 
soon  as  she  came  into  the  presence  of  the  mo- 
ther of  Coriolanus ;  "  we  are  Roman  ladies  who 
have  come  to  beseech  you  to  aid  in  securing 
the  safety  of  our  common  country.  Go  along 
with  us  to  the  camp  of  Coriolanus,  and  beg  of 


TRIIH-NF.S   oi  '»PLE.     Ill 


him  peace  for  hi-  fell-  us.     All  our  hope 

is  in  the  tend-  h  ho  may  have  for  so 

good  a  mother  and  so  virtu-. u-  a  wife.    Jm; 
demand    him.      IK'    rann«»t    with- 

'.  ith  Mm-  childivn  will  fol- 
V"ii,  and  cast  ourselves  at  his  fe* 

•  of  Coriolanus  was  quite  as  anx- 
ious for  the  honor  and  safety  of  Home  as  any 
of  the  ladies  who  surrounded  her;  but  knowing 
perfectly  tin-  character  of  her  son,  she  Ml  that 
it  wniil.l  IK-  useless  for  her  to  interpose. 
••  What  -access  can  you  expect  from  m 
es  to  a  man  so  implacable  ?"  said  she. 
t\vo  women   IK-IK!   that  stubborn  heart, 
which    the    ministers  of   religion    themselves 
could  not  soften?     And  indeed  what  shall  I 
bo  him?    What  can  I  reasonably  < It-ire  of 
him  ?     Shall  I  a>k  him  to  pardon  those  who 
have  treated  him  like  a  man  blackened  with 
the  foulest  crimes  ?    Shall  I  ask  him  to  betray 
a  nation  that  has  opened  to  him  an  asylum, 
and  preferred  him  to  its  most  illustrious  citi- 
in   the   cninmand  of  it>  armies?     Can  a 
an    mother  and  a  Roman  wifr   with  de- 

•<>m  a  son  and  a  husband  ti. 
which  mu-t  di-h.MiMr  him  before  both  gods  and 
men  ?    Give  us  up  therefore  to  our  unhappy 
destiny;  leav.  n  our  iu?f  affliction*.'1 


112  KEPUBLIC   or   EOME. 

She  goes  to  the  Camp  of  her  Son. 

But  the  mother  and  wife  of  Cori  claims  being 
finally  overcome  by  their  entreaties,  consented 
to  accompany  them  to  the  camp,  and  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Senate  being  obtained,  they  set 
out  upon  their  mission  in  chariots  provided  for 
the  purpose. 

The  news  of  their  approach  was  carried  to 
Coriolanus,  who,  conceiving  it  to  be  the  last 
expedient  of  the  Senate,  determined  to  receive 
them  with  respect,  but  to  grant  none  of  their 
requests.  Severe  and  resolute,  however,  as  he 
was,  he  could  not  behold  his  mother  and  wife 
at  the  head  of  this  troop  of  Roman  ladies  with- 
out running  to  embrace  them ;  but  the  moment 
they  began  to  entreat  him  to  remove  his  troops 
from  Rome,  all  his  natural  sternness  returned, 
and  he  declared  that  he  could  grant  the  Ro- 
mans peace  only  on  the  conditions  already 
named. 

"  And  can  you,  my  son,"  said  the  mother, 
raising  her  voice,  "  can  you  refuse  a  proposal 
so  equitable,  unless  you  prefer  a  cruel  and  ob- 
stinate revenge  to  your  mother's  tears  and  en- 
treaties ?  Consider  that  your  reply  is  to  decide 
the  fate  of  my  glory,  nay,  and  of  my  life  too !" 

Coriolanus  made  no  answer,  but  on  his  face 
any  one  might  see  a  stern  refusal  of  his  mother's 
prayer. 


TRIIU-NKS   UK   TIIK    PEOPLE.     113 

Her  Appeal  in  behalf  of  1: 

"Dot  thou  believe,"  she  continued,  u  that, 
covered  with  the  >hame  of  a  contemptuous  de- 
nial, I  can  ]»atiently  wait  till  thy  anus  have 
pronounced  our  doom  ?  A  KMIM:IH  woman 
knows  how  to  die,  when  her  honor  calls  her  so 
to  do;  ami  if  I  cannot  move  thee.  I  am  iv- 
1  to  irive  death  to  myself,  here  in  thy 
:KV.  Thou  -halt  not  march  to  Koine 
without  treading  over  the  hody  of  her  to  whom 
thou  owe>t  thy  beinir;  and  if  asi^ht  of  ><>  much 
hornn-  has  not  the  power  to -top  thy  fur; 
member,  at  least,  that  by  mean-  of  thy  endeav- 
oring to  bring  Rome  into  chains,  thy  wife  and 
children  cannot  avoid  a  speedy  death,  or  a  te- 
dious servitu. 

Uy  this  time  the  appearance  of  Coriohmus 

:i  to  chanire.     His   hatred   and  desire  of 

Qge  8eem«d   to   be  yielding  to  tlie  moving 

;u-le  before  him,  but  still  he  would  not  say 

a  word. 

"  \\rhy  dost  thou  not  answer  me,  my  son?" 
cried  again  his  mother.  "  Wilt  thou  not  know 
thy  mother  1  lla>t  thou  forgotten  the  care  I 
took  uf  thy  infancy?  Canst  thou,  who  make-t 
war  only  to  revenge  thyself  of  the  ingratitude 
of  thy  fellow- citizens,  deny  me  the  first  favor  1 
ever  asked  thee,  without  blackening  thyself 
with  the  very  same  crime  ?  If  I  required  thee 
8 


114  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

The  Effect  of  her  Prayers  and  Tears. 

to  betray  the  Volsci,  who  have  given  thee  so 
generous  a  reception,  thou  wouldst  have  just 
cause  to  reject  such  a  proposal.  But  I  only 
desire  thee  to  withdraw  thy  troops  from  Rome  ; 
allow  us  a  truce  for  a  year,  that  in  this  inter- 
val measures  may  be  taken  to  procure  a  solid 
peace.  Grant  this,  my  son,  I  conjure  thee  by 
Jupiter,  all-good  and  all-powerful,  who  presides 
at  the  capitol,  by  the  manes  of  thy  father  and 
of  thy  ancestors  1  If  my  prayers  and  tears  are 
not  able  to  move  thee,  behold  thy  mother  at 
thy  feet,  imploring  of  thee  the  preservation  of 
her  country!"  And  bursting  into  tears,  she 
embraced  his  knees.  His  wife  and  children, 
and  all  the  Roman  ladies,  falling  down  before 
him,  begged  him  to  have  mercy  upon  their 
beloved  city. 

""What  is  it  that  you  do,  my  mother?"  cried 
Coriolanus,  stooping  down  to  raise  her  from  the 
ground.  "  Rome  is  saved,  but  your  son  is  lost ! 
Farewell,  farewell  forever !"  and  then  embra- 
cing her,  and  his  wife  and  children,  he  moved 
slowly  towards  his  tent. 

On  the  following  day  he  called  a  council  of 
war,  and,  no  one  presuming  to  contradict  his 
opinion,  it  was  decided  that  the  army  should 
return  home  to  Antium.  Without  delay  the 
march  began  :  but  they  had  no  sooner  entered 


TRIBUNES  OF  THE  PEOPLE.     115 


IVatii  ofCoriolanus 


the  ii  the  city  than  the  cry  was  raised 

that  Coriolanus  had  turned  a  traitor  to  the  in- 

ici      II'1  demanded  a  trial  by 

•  •nil  council  of  the  nation;  but  Tullus.  the 

nor,  jealous  of  his  exploits,  and  ti-arin^  his 
eloquence  a>  much  as  his  valor,  rai>ed  a  tuniult, 
and,  by  nu-uns  of  a^i'iit^  previ.ni-ly  iiivtnu-UMl, 

•d  him  to  be  stabK-d. 
fj'hus  tell  this  remarkable  man,  though  it  was 

titly  without  the  approbation  of  the  VoKci, 
fortliey  a— t'liiMi-d  in  «rreat  multitink-s  Ironi  the 

:l>orinir  cities  to  do  hiin  honor  at  his  bur- 
ial, and  upon  his  tomb  they  placed  garlands 
and  spoils  of  war. 

At  Rome  the  report  of  his  death  was  received 
with  neither  favor  nor  resentment.  The  women 
all  went  into  mourning  for  him  for  the  space  of 
ten  months,  the  longest  period  for  wearing  ha- 
biliments of  grief. 


THE  DECEMVIIIS 


FROM   485   TO   446    B.  C. 


THE  Agrarian  Law — Increasing  power  of  the  Tribunes — 
Efforts  to  pacify  tli<-  JVople — Proposition  to  establish  fixed 
Laws — Conduct  of  Quintius  Ceso — Cincinnatus  created  Die- 
tutor — Commissioners  sent  to  Greece — Decemvirs  appointed 
— Their  powers — Appius  Claudius — The  Ten  Tables — Con- 
duct of  the  Decemvirs — Their  Tyranny — "\V;ir  with  the  Sa- 
bines — Defeat  of  the  Romans — Story  of  Bioeios  Dentatal — 
Story  of  Virginia — The  Decemvirate  abolished — Death  of 
Appius 


DEATH   OF  VIRGINIA. 


V. 

THE  DEC  KM  V  IRS. 


some  anil »it i«uis  indi- 
vidual >h"iild  take  advantaL'v  «»f  t: 

the    ph:  ,:i«l    tin*    pair 

prun  >wn  telfiah  ends,  and,  accord! 

^p.  Cassius  Vueellimitt  ei 

inir   in   thi>   way  to  obtain   ti  <  >..!- 

einnlv  p:  .   l»y  tin-  law.      A  m  l»y 

birth,  and  a  i-«»nsul,  IK-  snu^ht,  l,v  ^ainmir  the 
atl'»H-ti..n  of  tin-  plflu-iai:-.  .•••nipli-h  liis 

T"  i hi-  mil  J.M^M!.  in  order  to 

juit  the  poor  citi/i-ii>  up«.n  -..mc  r<juality  with 
the  rich,  and  them  t«>  >ul»si-t.  that  the 

land>   takni    fnun    th'  .   and 

which  had  !.<•  'I'.nld 

jiially  <livi<K-d    ainMnLr  tin-   pf-plc.      And 
this    was    tlie    tain»"  10,   which 

made  so  much  tnaihle  durin«r  many  follnwin^ 
years.  This  law,  nf  c<»ur>»'.  nn-t  immediate  op- 
position from  the  patricians,  and  such  was  the 


122  EEPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

The  Agrarian  Law— Genutiua. 

expectation  of  Cassius  ;  but  the  Tribunes,  jeal- 
ous that  a  patrician  should  undertake  to  rise 
through  the  favor  of  the  people,  succeeded  in 
bringing  about  his  death. 

The  subject  of  dividing  the  public  lands 
among  the  people  was  not,  however,  forgotten, 
and  a  law  was  obtained  from  the  Senate  pro- 
viding for  the  appointment  of  commissioners, 
who  should  proceed  with  the  partition  of  these 
lands,  and  set  up  landmarks,  that  might  put  a 
stop  to  all  usurpations  for  the  future.  Still,  few 
were  found  among  those  having  influence  or 
power  who  dared  to  move  in  the  matter,  and 
it  remained  for  a  long  time  unagitated.  At 
length,  however,  one  of  the  Tribunes,  Cn.  Ge- 
nutius,  publicly  cited  the  two  consuls  to  nomi- 
nate the  commissioners,  and  to  proceed  in  the 
partition  of  the  lands ;  and  so  boldly  was  he 
sustained  by  the  people  in  his  demands,  that 
the  Senate  finally  fixed  a  day  for  the  decision 
of  this  vexatious  matter.  But  on  the  night 
preceding  this" day,  Genutius  was  found  dead 
in  his  bed,  without  the  least  marks  of  poison  or 
any  other  violence.  His  body  was  laid  out  in 
the  Forum,  and  the  report  was  circulated  that 
the  gods,  disapproving  his  enterprise,  had  put 
an  end  to  his  life.  Thus  the  Agrarian  law  was 
again  silenced  for  a  long  time. 


TH  K    DKCEMV  IBS.  ii'.°. 


ili«-  Trilnines. 


The  contest  between  the  pK-heians  and  the 
patricians  continued  with  little  abatement ;  and 
the  death  of  Genutius  wa-  rather  an  incentive 
t-»  activity  than  a  motive  to  despair.  While 
the  consuls  every  year  incurred  only  the  h;; 
of  the  people,  the  Tribunes,  studying  to  gain 
their  applause,  aimed  at  sharing  with  the  Sen- 
ate and  patricians  the  wealth,  the  digi/ 
and  the  magistracies  of  the  Republic.  The 
pi.wer  of  the  Tribunes  occasionally  rose  so  high 
that  the  consuls  fled  before  them ;  thus  the 
consul  Appius,  opposing  vehemently  the  Agra- 
rian law,  was  so  furiously  attacked  by  them, 
that  he  w.-nt  into  exile,  or.  as  some  historians 
say,  ]>ut  an  end  to  his  life. 

There  was  not  however  wanting,  among  the 
patricians,  some  who  would  occasionally,  fivm 
N'oleiice  or  ambition,  put  themselves  at  the 
head  of  the  common  people.  The  desire  on 
the  part  of  the  plebeians  to  have  houses  and 
homes  was  too  reasonable  and  too  simple  to 
be  resisted;  and  it  would  have  been  stranire 
enough,  had  no  one,  either  from  selfishness  or 
kindness  advocated  their  cause.  During  the 
consulship  of  Tib.  Emelius  and  Q.  Fabins, 
twenty  years  after  the  Agrarian  law  was  first 
mooted,  a  strong  effort  was  made  to  satisfy  the 
people  by  furnishing  them  with  lands.  Erne- 


12-4  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 


Efforts  made  to  pacify  the  People. 


lius  stoutly  averred  that  it  was  impossible  to 
maintain  peace  and  union  among  the  citizens 
of  a  free  State,  unless  the  lands  taken  from 
their  enemies  were  fairly  divided  between  the 
rich  and  the  poor.  He  obstinately  persisted 
upon  the  publication  of  the  Agrarian  law.  and 
wa-  ably  sustained  by  some  of  the  older  sena- 
.  but  most  of  them  complained  that  he  was 
do-irous  of  gaining  popularity  l>y  distributing 
property  which  did  not  belong  to  him.  Dis- 
cord was  likely  to  follow,  when  Fabius,  his  col- 
league, proposed  that  the  city  of  Antium,  whose 
inhabitants  had  been  recently  de-troyed  by 
Avar,  should  be  given  to  the  poorer  people  of 
Rome.  Three  citizens  were  named  to  make 
the  establishment  of  this  colony  ;  but  when  the 
people  were  called  to  give  their  names  to  these 
pi-r>ons,  few  appeared,  so  strong  was  their  at- 
tachment lor  Koine,  and  so  little  inclination 
had  they  to  give  up  its  games,  its  spectacles, 
its  public  a>semblies,  and  its  busii 

At  this  time  Koine  had  no  fixed  laws,  nor 
any  constant  form  of  administering  justice. 
The  will  of  its  kings  had  been,  at  lirst,  its  law, 
and  the  consuls  and  Senate  succeeding  to  their 
power,  succeeded  likewise  to  the  same  right  of 
dispensing  justice.  Not  long,  then,  after  the 
attempt  to  found  a  colony  at  Antium,  a  certain 


T  ii  R    DlOl  M  9  :  1-J,") 

Proportion  to  establish  fixed  Laws. 

Tribune,  named  Terentillu-  Ai-a,  undertook  to 
signalize  hi-  tribunate   by  prop..>in^  the  * 
li-hment  of  la  I  ami  determined,  t'..r  the 

by  in   tlu-  jn«liT! 

they  should  j.  man  ami  man.    TIio-o 

law-  -iMl  I iv  trn  o  'imn 

half  of  v  '.-ins  ami   half 

•    with    a 
Opposition  on  the  part  ..f  tin 

OB,  ami  iiHH'tin<r>  were  re- 
•  lly  hrhl,  hut   to  no  purpose.     At  length, 
••im-s  (h-ti-nniiic-.l  to 

•  1   the  ]M 

for  the  ]>nrp-»-t.  «•!'  naming  their  cnnimissi..- 
AVhile  tlu-  l.u-incss  was  in  progress,  Qnintius 
.   -on    of  (Juintius   Cinei-  I    eoii-iil, 

ru-hed   into  the  crowd,  knocked  down   M 
1  all  tli:/  ;nd  by  m- 

of  the  uproar  which  lie  raised.  .if  the  as- 

seml.Iy,  notwithstanding  all  that  the  Trih 
could  do  t«>  keep  them  together. 

inch   applauded    l.y   the   senators 
and  )  a,  l.ut  his  conduct  was  so  • 

to  the  Triluines  that  lie  was  summoned  to  ap- 
.hly  of  the  people.     His 

father,  Cincinnati.  -  friends  and 

relations,  did  all   in  their  power  to  save  him; 
but  the  pcoi.je  were  so  exa-porated  by  his  con- 


REPUBLIC   OF    ROME. 


Conduct  of  Quintius  Coso. 


duct,  as  well  as  by  the  discreditable  stories 
which  were  related  concerning  him,  that  they 
were  determined  to  condemn  Ceso  to  death. 
The  witnesses,  however,  by  whom  they  were  to 
condemn  him,  not  being  present,  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  commit  him  to  prison  until  such 
time  as  he  could  be  tried;  but  this  proceeding 
having  been  disousseil,  it  wa<  a  give  d  that  ten 
citizens  should  be  bound  for  his  forthcoming 
on  the  day  when  he  was  to  be  tried,  or  pay 
siich  line  a<  should  bo  determined  upmi  be- 
twiM-n  the  Senate  and  the  Trihiin  »  did 

QOt,  however,  dan  t<>  appear  before  the  people, 
but,  departing  that  very  night  from  Rome, 
went  t-»  Tii-cany.  The  fine  WB6  exacted  with 
so  much  rigor  from  hU  bondsmen,  that  his  il- 
liHtrion-,  lather,  obliged  to  sell  his  e>taU-s.  re 
tired  t..  a  few  iCTOfl  of  land,  which  ho  cultiva- 
ted wi:h  hi-  «»\vn  hand-  in  order  to  j)rocure  a 

subsistence. 

Not  long  after  tin-  a  war  broke  nut  between 
the  Romans  -mi  the  one  hand,  and  the  Sabiiu-* 
and  the  Jvjiii  on  tho  other.  The  two  consuls. 
at  the  head  «>f  their  rospcctivo  arn  'it  out 

eoivo  tho  invaders.     Xautius,  who  attacked 
the  Sabines.  met  with  great  bi;  ait,  while 

he  was  pursuing  them  with  a  terrible  slaughter, 
his  colleague  Minutius  was  pushed  into  such 


THK   DECIMVI  1-J7 


:iii.  that   it    : 

It 

f.'und  iml  -pensable  under  ii  eum- 

•    L.  QuintiiH 
Cineinnatus   having   been  named    for  this  hi«rh 

.  a  deputation  wa<  >eiit  to  hrin<:  liiin 
his   lirtlc   tann.      Dropping  the    han<lh'    ut'  iiis 
plough,  be  girded  on  his  sword,  and  at  tin- 
«lf<l  in  - 

Tln«  S« 

in   «rratitii«K'  I'-T  his  ;ild   hav.- 

•<1   upon   him    th- 

•liiniT  <"»t'  the   kind,  he 
DM  t.»  the  occupations  of  his  little 
farm. 

innatm  \\.-i-c  with 

thr  :  -;  he  even  recommended  the  in- 

•  •!'  tin*  number  of  the  Tril 

that   •  M-  \\<.uld   tl. 

among  them ;  and  such  was  undoubtedly 

trill-,  though   the  Triliuru-:   .-rrnied    m 
ciallv  •.,  ruin  the  consuls  and   tin-  nnl.il- 

ity.      A    cnnstant    union    was,   howt-ver,   main- 
tained lu-twi-i-u  the  Tribunes  and  the  jilolx 
and  for  live  MU-O.  the  same  Tribunes 

te  proposition 

of  Terentillus  Arsa  for  a  code  of  fi\e<l  law  was 
not  forgotten,  but  was  now  continually  urged 


128  EEPUBLIC   OF   KOME. 

Commissioners  sent  to  Greece. 

upon  the  Senate,  who  took  every  mea 

;;'id  defeat  it.     To  this  end,  am<mir  other 
tilings,   it  \vas  proposed  that    three  commi  — ion- 
ers  l)e  sent  to  Athens  to  examine  Mich  of  the 
of  Solon  a<  were  mo>t  popular  ani«»n<r  the 
ks,  making  choice  of  those  most  suitable 
for  tlu-  ]•:•  <n>titution  of  the    linniai; 

j)ul)lic'.     Tln->o  foinini>-i'  jointed, 

and  dui-inir  their  alienee  tiie  city  was  compar- 
atively free  from  the  (li-srn-ioii-  \vhieh  usually 
ailed.      Hut    they  had   no   sooner  returned 
than  thr  Tril.uues  and   people  lu-^an  to  clamor 
for   th.e    appointment    of   tin-    Decemviis,    who 
be  eiiipl'.yt-d   upon   the  ^i-eat  w<>rk  <»f 
fixing  a  body  of  law-  tor  the  government  ot'tiio 
Commonwealth*       Kvery    etl'.'rt    was   made    by 
the   COngalfl   lo  di-ter  the   appointment  of 

|  and  <»ne  of  them  even  feigned,  f(,r 
some  time,  to  l»e  >iek.  in  order  that  he  mi^ht 
not  lie  importuiiiMl  in  the  matter.  P.y  the  art- 
fulne>-,  1.  ••!'  the  Tribuiu-s  the  appoint- 

ment of  the  •  I  K-ceniN  "ir-  \\a-  finally  achieved; 
but  the  de-i-n  of  'JVivntillus  \\;i-  not  fully  car- 
rird  out,  for  live  of  them  -hoiihl  have 

n   from   anioiiM-  the    plebeians,  which   \va< 

not  done,    'i'he-f  Decemvirs  consisted . of  Ap- 

jiius  C'laudius,  T.  Genutius,    1  -.  Yeiuri- 

u<.  C'.  Julius,  A.  Manlius,  S.  Siiljiitius,   ij.  Cu- 


Tii  i   DEOB  M  \ 

Power*  of  lb«  Daeemrlre— Applus  OUadlua. 

amiuB. 

All   «>ther  of: 

inite    c<>nt  i  i 

an«l   even   the  common   1  .  .f  the  ]• 

•  be  at  i 

A  jipius  ( 'laii'T  ono 

en,  In*  II-SUHUM!  ii"  autli'-ritv  | 

. 

!;ir  iwpoesi! 
was  sure  to  rec< 

!i>iiK'><  intrustiMl   to   him 
, 

•urn 
•  the 

.«•  lirt«.is,  \vl.  -:i  tin* 

I 

'..•(I   their 

point  hiitht'ully 

Upon  .  which 

•i-s  of  the 

Iliiving  completed  their  work, 


130  REPUBLIC'   OF   ROME. 

The  Ten  Tables— The  Ambition  of  Appius  Claudius. 

proposed  it  in  ten  table.*,  sonic  of  them  relating 
to  the  concerns  of  religion,  others  to  the  public 
rights,  and  the  greater  part  to  private  persons. 
The>e  laws  were  submitted  to  the  people,  and 
received  their  unanimous  approbation,  though, 
in  the  opinion  of  some  person-.,  several  regula- 
tions were  wanting  which,  if  added,  would  ren- 
der the  body  of  the  Roman  law  complete. 
This  opinion  becoming  very  general,  it  civ 
a  desire  to  make  another  election  of  Decemvirs 
for  one  year  more;  and  the  Senate  glad  thus 
to  get  rid  of  the  Tribunes  and  the  people  glad 
to  be  i'ree  from  the  con<nN.  the  thing  was  dime. 
The  day  was  fixed  for  the  election,  and 
among  the  senators  tin-re  were,  of  COUTBe,  many 
who  aspired  to  the  dignity  of  the  otliee.  Ap- 
piu-.  however,  pretended  that,  having  labored 
in  it  assiduously  for  a  whole  year,  he  was  will- 
ing that  any  one  should  now  occupy  hi*  place. 
Hut  when  the  day  arrived,  he  -urreeded  not 
only  in  procuring  hi-  own  election,  hut  the 
fK-ction  of  six  other  senator>  least  esteemed  in 
the  wlioU-  body,  and  what  was  still  more  sur- 
pri-ing.  of  three  plebeians  Throwing  off  then 
the  line  mask  which  he  had  worn  during  the 
previous  year,  he  represented  to  his  colleagues 
that  there  was  nothing  more  ea-y  than  for 
them  to  retain  the  sovereign  power  during  their 


Tin. 


lUut-litv  Co:<.du,-t  ,  • 


•ut  a 

16  ofcon«  rules,  which 

all   i»r«»mi<L'd  with   t'.  -ulemn  - 

ve. 

poo  which  these  ' 

•y  appeared  in  public, 
with  tw. 

•  -ts  befor. 
r«»r  all  wlmm   tin- 

>urse  preva; 

plaii.  •  •••n-uU,  I 

had  :  'irninir  "v^'r  ^K'! 

these  complaint-  confined  t<»  :  -,  but 

the    :  s  made  tlic-in    al>«»,  althoiiirh   the 

.'ned  to  take  advantage  of  the  res- 
ignation of  the  I>  >ul«l 

\lany  nf  them.  1; 

Agiveahly  '  in  which 

these  iirst   aj  : 

igfl   in  the  HUM    iniprriMii-  and 

. 

help  them  in 

their  bate  design*;  and  even  ;  "iimr 

many  \\      .  ^rrin^  li- 

ccnti  1  not  blusli  to  become 

the  MM  vants  and  accomplices  of  • 
nu-ii.   UMBVB  was  no  safety  in  B         '- 
and  virtue;  and  the  j  «.»f  honest  ci: 


132  REPUBLIC   OF   11  o M  K . 

Their  Tyranny— Rome  threatened  from  abroad. 

was  daily  plundered,  while  the  unfortunate 
sufferers  were  unable  to  procure  the  least  relief. 
If  any  one  was  bold  enough  to  express  his  in- 
dignation at  such  a  government,  these  tyrants 
ordered  him  to  be  beaten  as  a  slave ;  some 
were  even  put  to  death,  and  confiscation  wa>  n 
common  occurrence. 

Hope  began  to  spring  up  in  the  breasts  of 
the  people  as  the  time  drew  near  when  the 
reign  of  these  terrible  men  should  cease  ac- 
cording to  law.  But  the  year  came  to  a  close 
without  any  appearance  of  an  as-embly  of  the 
people  for  an  election.  The  tyrants,  in  fact, 
now  boldly  proclaimed  that  they  should  retain 
the  government,  if  neccs- ary.  by  force  and  vio- 
lence; and,  many  of  the  citi/eiis  g"ing  into 
voluntary  exile,  Koine  seemed  destined  to  de- 
struction. Its  foreign  enemies  no  longer  re- 
mained quiet,  and  even  the  nations  owing  it 
allegiance  de-pi>cd  the  orders  that  were  sent  to 
them,  as  if  they  were  unwilling  to  submit  to  a 
people  that  hud  lost  their  own  liberty. 

The  yKijiii  and  the  Sabines,  ever  ready  to 
show  their  enmity  to  Rome,  raised  two  large 
armies  and  inarched  against  it.  The  Decem- 
virs, seeing  themselves  thus  compelled  to  de- 
fend the  city,  sought  the  aid  of  the  Senate  and 
people,  and,  after  a  great  deal  of  difficulty,  ar- 


Tin:    I>K«-KMVIRS.  133 

mies  wer  .   and  placed  under  their   c-"in- 

niand.       Appiu-.    conh'dini:    them    t»»    his   col- 
them    forth  -my; 

whil>t  he,  with  a  body  of 
maintain   hi>   authority   against  the  c-neniy   at 

boo 

It  cnuld  not  l»e  >nj.]>r»sed  that  men  who  had 

lly  di'i -rived  (,f  their  lil- 

al»nsrd   i-  imairinal»le  way,  w-mld  li^-ht 

well  for  tlmse  who  had  occasioned  all  their  <ut- 
1'erinir-;  and  we  accnrdin^ly  find  that  the  Ko- 
niaii  ani:  in  thi>  war,  were  in  ji 

>hort  time  (•••inpleti-ly  I-I.UUM!    ami  dri . 

ilieir  "•>'.  i-y.      Hut  the  new>  of  the 

;ne  with  as  mud: 

at  a   victory.      K  said  that   i' 

•ierful    that    the    armies   of  tin-    Kejnil»lic 
should   be  un  'iiand  of 

usurper.-;  and   while  some    called   to- 
others proposed  that  a  Dictator  should  1>. 

Dentatus,  an  old  plebeian,  who  hud 

at  in   a  hundred  and  t \venty  l»attl«-s.  went 

about   denouncing   in   the    seveiv-r    terms    the 

•mvirs  as  the  cau-e  «•!'  this  mi>i'oi-: 
into  so.  much  contempt  did  he  throw  them,  that 
would  scarcel     i^jvc   heed   to   their 


134  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 


Siccius  Dentatus— His  Defence  against  his  Murderers. 

commands.  The  discontent,  indeed,  became 
so  general,  that  an  open  revolt  seemed  almost 
inevitable. 

But  Appius,  provided  for  such  an  event,  sent 
provisions  and  recruits  to  his  colleagues,  and 
bid  them,  at  the  same  time,  to  punish  in  the 
most  rigorous  manner  all  those  who  gave  any 
evidence  of  mutiny.  Resolving  also  to  be  re- 
venged upon  Siccius,  he  pretended  to  have 
great  respect  for  his  experience  as  a  soldier, 
and  engaged  him  to  go  and  assist  the  generals 
with  his  counsels. 

The  old  soldier,  sincerely  desiring  to  serve 
his  country,  and  unsuspicious  of  the  cunning 
Decemvir,  set  out  at  once  for  the  camp,  where, 
according  to  previous  instructions  from  Appius, 
hi-  was  recvived  with  every  appearance  of  joy 
and  resj.eet.  l>ut  the  secret  agents  of  Appius, 
contriving  to  iret  him  out  of  the  camp  into  a 
lonely  place,  fell  upon  him  with  their  swords. 
The  hero  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  battles  was 
not,  however,  to  be  slain  without  a  >tni<_ri:le. 
Placing  his  back  airainst  a  r<>ek.  in  order  k> 
prevent  an  attack  from  behind,  he  defended 
himself  with  so  much  skill  that  several  of 
them  were  killed,  while  others  were  terribly 
wounded.  The  villains,  however,  bent  upon 
the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose,  climbed 


T  H  K    :  vi  us.  135 

Apptu*  saspected  of  causing  bis  Death. 

up  to  th.  I  thence  heat  him 

on  tlu-  head  witl.  g  into  the 

cam;  .  hearile-s    rutiian-   .-aid    that   they 

ha«l    fallen    into   an   amhu-h,  in  which  Siccius 
and  some  of  their  r«»mr;  -lain. 

The  -tory  was  at  hut  some  of 

who  regarded  Siccius  as  a  lather, 
went  nut  to  seek  his  cor  found   it; 

but  they  found  also  that  thu- 
with  him  were  all  -  ;  and  what 

them  more  \va>,  that  none  uf  them  liad  been 
stripped  of  their  arms  or  clothes,  and  that  the 
slain  all  lay  with  their  faces  towards  him.     Be- 
this,  then-  were   no  i»3  indicating 

the   retivat  of  any  who  mi^ht    have   In  r:i   >up- 
posed  to  attack  th 

!    these    things    made    th-  -ct    that 

iufl  had  lu-en  mn  :  and  it  was 

natural  for  ti.  •  was 

This 

was  confirmed  1 
-•my  dei.  'lie  ])iinisliment  of  the  88- 

•mid.  having 

:  assisted  in  making  their  t-eape.     These 

ii»-re  the 

citi/.ens  and  soldi'  '••  and  the  people, 

all  cried  out  against  ?o  infamous  a  deed.     But 
ere  Rome  could  be  free  from  the  yoke  of  Ap- 


136  KEITH LIC   OF   ROME. 

Appius  attracted  by  Virginia. 


pins,  he  was  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  his  tyran- 
nies by  a  deed  still  more  odious  and  horrible 
than  the  murder  of  Siccius. 

While  the  armies  were  engaged  in  the  war, 
it  was  the  custom  of  this  brutal  Decemvir  to 
administer  justice  in  the  Forum,  where,  at 
stated  seasons,  he  sat  to  receive  those  who  re- 
quired his  services.  From  the  position  which 
he  occupied,  he  could  easily  perceive  all  who 
passed  to  and  fro,  either  upon  their  business  or 
their  pleasure;  and  it  is  not  difficult  to  admit 
that  his  mind  was  not  so  completely  occupied 
with  the  interest  of  his  fellow-citizens,  as  to  pre- 
vent hi-  eyee  from  being  sometimes  wickedly 
engaged. 

Seated  one  day  in  his  u>ual  plan-,  lie  chanced 
lo  >py  a  beautiful  girl,  of  about  iiftecn  years, 
who,  under  the  charge  of  an  attendant,  was 
pacing  through  the  Forum  on  her  way  to 
school.  Struck  with  her  appearance,  he  imme- 
diately inquired  her  name  and  condition,  and 
aM-rrtained  that  she  was  a  plebeian  ;  that  her 
lather  was  cue  \  irginius,  a  centurion  in  the 
army  then  engaged  in  the  war ;  that  her  own 
name  was  Virginia,  and  that  >he  was  engaged 
to  be-  married  to  Icilius,  lately  one  of  the 
Tribunes. 

Such  a  story  had  little  in  it  to  encourage  his 


Tin:    lM:i'KMv;  137 

Virginia  claimed  as  a  Slav*  by  Claudius, 

:i    if  Appius    had    not    In  • 

married  man.  tin-  lows  of  the  Twelve  Tablefl  for- 
bade all  alliances  between   the  patrician-  ami 

pleK-ians   and    he    very   soon    dif 
that  Virginia  wa<  proof  ;  my  dish* 

purp.  •''(   lie   might   cherish   towards  lu-r. 

•,  to  get  her  into  his  pos- 
;rse  to  M.  Claudius,  one  of 
the  nunien-us  sc<»undivls  whom  he  kept  in  his 

empl 

This  man  having  one  day  t'«'ll,,\\ 
discoverr<l   the  school  to  which  -: 
and  after  waiting  a  short    time    at    tlu-    < 
entered,  and   taking  the  UINU-JM  «  !    l»y 

the  hand.  .ted  by  f  drag  h. 

his  own    h-.iise,  under  j.ivtencc   •  •  was 

the   daughter  of  one  of   his    slaves.      (  > 
wlii'lnied    with    confusion,    Virginia    could 
fend    her-. -If  only   l»y   lu-r   t«-ars;    hut   the   wit- 
nesses of  the  transaction,  moved  l.y  the  sight, 
ran    to   her  assistance,  and    put  a  Stop  to   the 

:ig  of  Claudius.     The   villain  a- 
that  he  meant  to  use  no  violence,  but  simply  to 
take  possession  of  his  own   property,  to  which 
he   was  certainly   entitled,  wherever  he  might 
lind   it;    and   In-  challenged  all   those  wh- 
ined his  right,  to  appear  with   him  hefore  the 
Decemvir  Apj»ius,  where    he  would    lead    Yir- 


138  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Virginia  carried  before  Appius. 

ginia,  and  prove  abundantly  that  she  was  his 
slave. 

Some  of  the  people,  who  knew  both  the  girl 
and  her  father,  and  others,  moved  only  by  curi- 
osity, followed  to  the  Forum,  where  Claudius 
stated  his  case  before  a  judge  who  was  himself 
the  author  of  the  villany.  lie  said  that  Vir- 
ginia had  been  born  in  his  own  house,  and  that 
her  mother  had  secretly  sold  her  to  the  wife  of 
Virginius,  who  now  made  her  pass  for  his  own 
daughter.  lie  offered  also  to  produce  undenia- 
ble testimony  of  the  truth  of  his  assertions,  but 
claimed  that  until  the  matter  could  be  decided, 
it  was  but  just  that  >lu-  >hould  accompany  him 
as  her  master;  and  at  the  same  time  signified 
his  willingness  to  give  good  security  lor  her 
appearance,  it'  Vilnius,  at  hi-  return,  still  pre- 
tended to  be  her  real  father. 

Numitorius.  her  uncle,  who  had  been  in- 
formed of  what  had  taken  place,  had  by  this 
time  reached  the  Forum.  Without  much  diffi- 
culty he  discovered  the  plot  that  had  been  laid 
by  the  unprincipled  Appius;  hot,  concealing 
his  suspicions,  he  simply  claimed  that,  as  the 
uncle  of  the  girl,  he  was  entitled  to  her  guar- 
dianship until  the  appearance  of  her  father, 
and  asked  that  the  case  might  be  postponed  for 
two  days,  by  which  time  he  thought  that  Yir- 


'I'm:    !>!:>  KMVIRS.  139 

At'.Tii;  • 


ginius  iiii^ht  l»e  brought  from  the  cam}).  So 
ju>t  a  demand  could  not  tail  to  gain  tin-  ap- 
proval of  the  a-^emhly  ;  but  Api  ared 

that,  however  willing  ho   might    he   to  deliver 
the  girl   into   the  liamK  of  any  one  claiming  to 
be    her   father.  In-   could   not   with  justice  give 
her  up  to  a  person  asserting  him>elf  t-»   1» 
uncle;  ami  that,  under  the   C 

"»-lled  to  place  her  in  the  custody  of 
Claudius,  who  should  give  sec  produce 

•gafa  at  the  return  of  her  reputed  fat: 

Such  an  unjust  decree  aroused  the  indigna- 

tion of  the  whole  assembly,  and  murmurs  and 

complaints  arose  on  <le.     Th 

who  resent   gathered    around   Virginia 

BSj  and  declared   that  she 

should    not    be    delivered    in  hands   of 

Claudius.  13ut  this  cruel  monsVr.  reiranlh->-» 
of  tl,  .  \va-  attempting  to  force  her 

,  when  Icilius,  to  whom  she  was  promised 
in  marriaire,  ru.-hed  into  the  Forum,  maddened 
by  the  report-  which  had  imw  i  his  ears. 

BegvdieM  of  all  danger,  he  flung  himself 
into  the  presence  of  the  haughty  Decemvir, 
and  shaking  i  lied  hand  in  his  very  face, 

cried  out  —  "Thou  shalt  t  me, 

before  thou  shalt  enjoy  the  fruit  of  thy  vile  ar- 
tifices and  insupportable  tyranny.  Is  it  not 


140  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Effective  Speech  of  her  Lover. 

enough  that  thou  hast  deprived  us  of  the  two 
strongest  bulwarks  of  our  liberty,  the  protection 
of  our  Tribunes,  and  the  right  of  appeal  to  the 
assembly  of  the  people  ?  Cannot  the  honor  of 
the  Roman  maidens  be  safe  with  thee  ?  Know, 
tyrant,  that  Virginia  is  betrothed  to  me,  and 
that  I  expect  to  marry  a  virgin,  and  one  free 
born.  If,  in  the  absence  of  her  father,  any 
attempt  is  allowed  to  do  her  violence,  I  will 
implore  the  aid  of  the  Roman  people  for  my 
wile;  Virgin  his  will  demand  assistance  of  all 
his  fellow-soldiers  for  his  daughter,  and  both 
gods  and  men  will  be  on  our  side.  IJut  tin. ugh 
I  hud  not  a  man  to  assist  me.  justice  and  vir- 
tuous love  wrill  give  me  sufficient  power  to  pre- 
vent the  execution  <>f  thy  unjust  sentence !" 

Such  passinnule  language  moved  every  one, 
in  his  behalf,  and  Claudius  wa>  driven  to  take 
refuge  at  the  feet  of  Appius.  Multitude.-  of 
people,  llocked  into  the  Fnruni,  and  the  De- 
cemvir, fearing  an  open  revolt,  thought  lit  to 
revoke  his  decree  and  to  give  Virginia  her 
freedom,  on  condition  that  Icilius  should  give 
r-eeurity  for  her  appearance  on  the  morrow. 

AVithout  a  moment's  delay,  Appius  dis- 
patched a  secret  messenger  to  his  colleagues 
svho  commanded  the  army,  begging  them  to 
•invst  Virginius,  upon  tome  pretence  or  other, 


Tii  i:    DKCE  M  v  .  141 


or  at  lea-t  n«»t  to  permit  him  to  return  to 
Koine.  In  this  way.  he  still  hoped  that  he 
.-honld  IK-  able  t-»  deliver  Virginia  into  the 
hands  of  daadius.  I!ut  hi-  mes-enger  reached 

•ainj)  too  late:  Vidimus-  had  been  prompt- 
ly  apprised  of  hi-  daughter's  danger,  and  had 
obtained  leave  ot'  absence  from  the  camp  b. 
the  arrival  of  the  m68BeBgen  of  ApphMd  liv- 
ery effort  was.  h-.wever,  made  him, 
and  pivvent  him  from  ^ettin^  back  to  Rmne, 
but  it  wa-  all  in  vain.  Prompted  by  a  lather's 

.  lie  llew  a-  <»n  the  winirs  ot'  the  wind. 

:o  bloodhounds  dispatche<l  in  pur-uit 
of  him  had  -rented  lii-  trark,  he  was  locked  in 
the  arm-  ••!'  hi-  unhappy  dau^: 

With  a  bleeding  heart  he  went  to  the  Forum 
on  the  foIliiwinLT  day,  leading  \'irLrinia  by  the 
hand.  A  en>wd  of  people  had  already  a- 
bled,  to  whom  Icilius  \va»  loudly  declaimiiii; 
against  the  tyranny  and  ba>ene-s  of  the  !)«•- 
cemvir.  JJnt  the  youth,  the  beauty,  and  inno- 
cence of  Virginia  moved  the  multitude  more 
than  all  the  complaints  ami  eiitr  ;  her 

family:    and    Appiu-.    hearing    of  the    Btr 
feelinir  that   had  against  him,  or- 

;  a  b<  :dy  of  troops  to  be  sent  to  the  Forum 
for  his  protection.  Then  repairing  thither  him- 
self, and  taking  possession  of  his  tribunal,  ho 


142  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Trial  before  Appius. 

called  upon  the  villain  Claudius  to  open  his 
demand,  and  to  proceed  in  his  action. 

Claudius,  of  course,  began  by  claiming  Vir- 
ginia as  his  slave,  and  offered  to  prove  his 
pretensions  by  a  dozen  witnesses.  Having  per- 
mi-sion  to. produce  these  witnesses,  he  brought 
immediately  upon  the  stand  a  female  slave, 
who,  for  a  bribe,  swore  that  Virginia  was  her 
own  daughter,  and  that  she  had  sold  her  to  the 
wife  of  Virginius,  who  wished  to  bring  her  up 
as  her  own  child. 

"  If  the  evidence  of  this  woman  is  not  suffi- 
cient," said  Claudius,  "I  will  adduce  still  fur- 
ther proof;  but  I  hope  that  justice  will  not 
be  denied  to  me  on  account  of  the  threats  of 
this  Icilius,  or  the  clamors  of  these  pretended 
relatives." 

But  the  friends  of  Virginia  brought  witnesses 
who  had  known  her  from  the  very  moment  of 
her  birth,  and  who  had  seen  her  when  a  babe 
upon  her  mother's  bosom.  Nothing,  indeed, 
could  be  made  more  clear,  than  the  fact  that 
Claudius  was  a  ba-o  impostor,  and  that  Vir 
ginia  was  the  victim  of  a  foul  conspiracy. 

Observing  the  effect  produced  by  the  wit- 

8  of  Virgin! us  upon  the  multitude,  Appius 

stopped  the  proceedings,  and  addressing  the 

assembly.    >aid :    4' Be   it   known    to    you,    O 


Tin;   DEOKMVIRS.  143 

>t«ous  Judgment— Indignation  of  Virginias. 

!  that  I  am  net   ignorant  of  the  facts 

connected  with  r  .It  is  true,  that  du- 

rinir   the  whole   life   of  this  maiden.  Claudius 

not    until    yesterday    claimed    her    as    hi> 

slave;  but  this  dues  not  in  any  wi-e  diminish 

'iirht    t<»   do  so   now.      Everybody  knows 

that    Claudius*    father,    at    his   death,    left    me 

guardian    of  hi-   s  »n.     Soon   afterward-.  I  was 

tuld    that,    as    Mich,    i    o-  aim    this 

young  slave,  as  part  of  his  M  n  :  and   I 

then    heard   the  evidence   wliieh    has   this   day 

!i  in  your  hearing.     Kvery  tiling  c-«'ii- 

sj.in-d  t..  hinder  me  in  the  performance  of  my 

duty;   hut  the  post  I  now  occupy  will  not  allow 

me   i  him   the  justice  which  I  ov 

and    I   therefore  decree  that   the 
plaintiff  take  home  the  ^irl  a->  his  slave." 

W roil i(l it  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  mad 
by  such  an  unjust  sentence,  Virginiufl  ]•'.; 
hi-   arm   around   his  child,  and   turning  to  the 
cruel    Decemvir,   he   shouted:    k»  Know,  ()  A].- 
:    1  did  not  educate  my  daughter   for  >uch 
a    hideous    wretch    as    thoii  !     I   gave    her   to 
Icilius,  and    tlmu   shalt    i.  il    her   thine. 

AVhat!  shall  it  he  said  of  Romans,  that  they 
ares-  yield  tamely  their  wives 

and  daughters  to  beasts  like  thee?" 

A  thousand  clamors  now  filled  the  air ;  and 


14A  REPUBLIC   OF   HOME. 

Virginias  slays  his  Daughter. 

Appius,  maddened  by  the  exposure  of  his 
crime,  and  fearing  too  for  the  safety  of  his  life, 
was  obliged  to  order  his  soldiers  and  his  lictors 
to  drive  the  people  from  the  Forum. 

Yirginius,  perceiving  then  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  him  to  save  his  daughter,  begged  of 
Claudius  that  he  would  allow  him  to  have  a 
moment's  conversation  with  her  in  private. 
The  request  was  granted,  on  condition  that  she 
should  not  be  taken  out  of  the  Forum. 

Pierced  to  the  heart  he  clasps  the  stricken 
maiden  in  his  arms;  he  wipes  away  the  tears 
which  bathe  her  face,  and,  drawing  her  closer 
and  closer  to  his  bosom,  removes  her  slowly 
from  tin-  tribunal,  as  if  in  search  of  some  quiet 
plaee  where,  undisturbed,  he  may  whisper  in 
her  ear.  Approaching  (»ne  of  the  littler-hops 
that  opened  in  the  Forum,  he  spies  a  butclu-r's 
knife.  Keaching  out  his  hand  In-  takes  it  1111- 
perceivcd,  and  pivs>ing  Virginia  to  his  heart 
with  still  more  tenderness  than  ever,  he  e.x- 
claims:  ".My  dearest  child,  this  is  the  only 
way  to  -a\e  thy  honor  and  thy  liberty."  With 
these  words  he  plunges  the  knife  into  her 
bosom,  and  then  drawing  it  out  all  reeking  with 
her  blood,  he  rushes  to  the  tribunal  of  the  ty- 
rant, and  holding  up  the  knife  to  the  terrified 
monster,  shrieks  into  his  ears :  "  It  is  Avith 


Tin-:    I  vi  us.  l-l.~. 

-  .Iriven  fnun  tho  i 

this   innocent  1.1 1.   O  Appius   that  I   <i 

thy  head  to  the  internal  L 

I... ml  -hrieks  n<>\v  till   tho   F«>rum;  and   Ap- 

'  -r  his  life,  calU  upon  hi 
Vir_i:iniu<  and  di>arm  him.      IJut 
the   brave  centurion,   brandi-hiii- 

ihem  all  defiance  ;  and,  Ope&ing  a  passage 
thri'iiirli  the  c-r«'\vd,  reaches  the  r!  .  and 

itnpi, 

lr  v  for  Appius  and  his  bru- 

tal c« -lii-agues.     Crowds  of  pr  ;  int«> 

tlu-    I-'.. rum    In »n.  .,         .    and 

slu»wed   l.y  tlu-ir  actions  tho  t'nllo-t   «li-tormin:i- 
ti«»n  t«>  avi-n^f  tlu-  death  «>f  Viririnia.    'J'he  des- 
j.oratt-  Appius  called  upon  his  guards  to 
their  leaders;    but   th«-    po<«plr.   n..\v    prrt'cdlv 
furio  B  thorn. t':  l-'»nim.  l»n»ko  the 

-  of  the  liotors,  and  cha>in^  tho  tyrant 
him>olf  tVom  his  tribunal,  eumpolh-d  him  to 
take  ivfuge  in  a  neighboring  Inn: 

Viririniiis   having    ;  camp,   with 

the  bloody  knife  still  in  his  hand,  told  the 
dreadful  story  to  the  soldiers.  Kui-ed  to  the 
highest  pitch  of  madness,  his  comrade-  t«n.k  up 
their  arms,  and,  in  spite  of  the  threat-  of  their 
generals,  marched  that  very  day  t<»  Komo. 
Their  arrival  in  the  city  changed  the  tumult  to 
an  open  rebellion,  and,  the  Senate  being  con- 
10 


146  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

The  Dccemvirate  abolished— Death  of  Appius. 

venecl,  all  the  Decemvirs  promised  to  abdicate 
their  offices,  if  they  might  only  be  saved  from 
the  hatred  of  the  people.  An  interrex  was 
promptly  chosen,  and  L.  Valerius  and  M.  Ho 
rat ius  were  afterwards  named  as  consul-. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  days  the  excitement 
somewhat  subsided.  The  people  elected  their 
Tribunes ;  the  Lex  Valeria  was  confirmed  anew, 
and  thus  the  innocent  blood  of  the  unfortunate 
Virginia,  like  that  of  Lucretia,  procured  the 
Roman  people  their  liberty  a  second  time. 
Appius  was  arraigned  before  the  people  to  an- 
swer for  his  crimes  ;  but  bi'ing  placed  in  prison 
to  await  his  trial,  he  avoided  punishment  by 
taking  his  own  life.  His  infamous  accomplice, 
Marcus  Claudius,  was  condemned  to  death. 
Through  the  intercession,  however,  of  his  pow- 
erful friends,  Virginius  consented  that  this  sen- 
tence, though  not  too  severe,  should  be  changed 
to  banishment. 


THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  ROM1-] 
BY  TIIF.  CAULS. 

FROM   448   TO   380   B.  0. 


THE  Siege  of  Veil — Camillas  made  Dictator — Taking  of 
Voii — Triumph  of  Camillus — A<-ou>at  ions  brought  against 
liim  — Ills  Kxile  —  Difficulties  with  (he  Gauls  —  Brennus 
marches  a.u'ain.-t  Home — Rome  abandoned  to  its  Enemies — 
Thr-  City  destroyed — Camillus  undertakes  to  punUh  the 
Gauls — Bravery  of  Cominius — Attempt  to  take  the  Capitol 
— Singular  Alarm — Fate  of  the  Invaders — Inmates  of  the 
Ca]>i;«>l  niak<-  «-MVrs  t«»  iSr.-mius— The  Gauls  driven  from 
Home — Desolate  Appearance  of  the  City — Proposals  to  for- 
sake :  i — Determination  to  rebuild  it — Jealousy  of 
M.  Munlius — His  Imprisonment  and  Death. 


VI. 

THI-DKSTIilVTInN  OF  I^MI-  I'.Y  TIIK  HAILS. 


A i  i notion  of  the  Deceimi 

ami  '  ul-ion  of  the  IK 

•r  a  seas<  ed  comparative  tran- 

(juiH  i  it  was  not  long  before  the  old 

quarrels  between  the  n<>  '1   the  people 

need  with  almost  as  much  violence  as 
.     "One  would  thinky' >aid  the  illu>: 
Quintius,  "that  Rome  holds  within  her  walls 
two    different    nations    contending    with     • 
otlicr  for  the  command."    Encouraged  by  their 
numerous  triumphs,  the  people  at  length  began 
to  offices  hitherto  held  only  by  the 
patricians,  and  demanded  also  a  repeal  of  the 
law   that  prohibited    intermarriages   between 
them. 

Taking  advantage  of  these  continual  strifes, 
the  neighboring  nations,  ever  jealous  of  this 
powerful  city,  made  incursions  upon  their  ter- 


150  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

The  Siege  of  Veii. 

ritory,  and  threatened  them  with  evils  still 
greater  than  they  were  suffering  by  their  civil 
contentions.  Among  the  boldest  of  their  ene- 
mies were  the  yEqui  and  the  Yolsci,  whose 
armies  came  to  the  very  gates  of  Rome.  But 
they  were  driven  away  as  often  as  they  made 
themselves  subject^  of  alarm. 

The  most  insolent  and  provoking  treatment 
which  they  received,  came,  however,  from  the 
Veientes,  who  drove  away  with  contempt  the 
ambas<ad»»iv  sent  to  them  to  demand  repara- 
tion. These  people,  occupying  the  city  of  Veii, 
one  of  the  strongest  and  wealthiest  in  Italy, 
were  enemies  that,  the  Romans  might  take 
great  pride  in  subduing;  and  the  Jlagrant  of- 
fence recently  committed  by  them,  was  suffi- 
cient to  just  if  v  the  severest  proceedings  on  the 
part  of  Koine. 

The  siege  of  Veii  was  accordingly  resolved 
upon,  and  a  large  army  was  collected  and  sent 
against  it.  .Hut  the  place  being  almost  im- 
pregnable, ii  was  a  long  time  before  the  Ro- 
mans gained  any  perceptible  advantage.  In- 
deed they  suffered  so  much  from  the  sallies 
made  from  the  city,  that  they  were  sometimes 
on  the  point  of  giving  it  up  entirely.  It  was, 
however,  determined  that  the  military  tribunes 
in  command  of  the  Roman  forces  should  be  re- 


i  ox  OF  Ro 


Camilla*  made  Dictator-Taking  of  Veil 


called,  and  that  the  conduct  of  tli-  iould 

becoinn.'  M".  Furiu-  Caniil  -eral 

,  alor  and  extraordinn  -ity. 

That  li.  •   have  every   possible  advan- 

.  Camilli:  ieed  to  th.-  diL'ni' 

.  and  the  army  was  irreatly  and  rapidly  in- 

creased by  men  of  every  rank,  whom,  l»y  the 

lu-tre  of  \\\<  name,  he  drew  anuuid  him.  March- 

ing t-»   \\-ii   he  went  vigorously  t<»  w«»rk,  with 

the   h«'|u-   tliat  he  mi^ht   l.e  al»le  t«>  carry  the 

t..wn  l»ya<-ault  <»r  «'|..  ;   luit  lindin^  that 

'•uhl  nut  succeed  in  this  way,  he   had  re- 

cnur-e  1..  mininir  and  sapping.     By  dint  of  a 

.1  uf  lal»«.r,  liis  M»Ulifi-s  dug  a  subt' 
Q6O1U  i>a«aire,  under  the  v  'li.-  \t-r\ 

tre  of  the  place;  and  then  ei:  t'rum  the 

aTuimd,  spread  thenif-elve.-  thruughout  the  town. 
The  '  .  whully  unsu.-piciuus  of  such  an 

attack,  and  having  all  their  forces  near  the 
walls,  found  themselves  suddenly  overwhelmed 
by  tin-  enemy.  It  wa-  in  vain  for  them  to 
:  and  the  JJoinan  soldiers,  cutting  down 
all  whom  they  found  in  arms,  plundered  the 
city. 

The  news  of  this  achievement  was  rece' 
at   Koine  with  demonstrations,  of  the  greatest 
j'>y.     The  temple-  were  crowded  with  grateful 
worshippers,  and  four  days  were  set  apart  for  a 


152  KEPUBLIC   OF  KOME. 

Triumph  of  Camillas— Proposition  concerning  Veil. 

public  thanksgiving  to  the  gods.  Camillus 
himself,  returning  with  his  victorious  army,  en- 
tered the  city  in  a  stately  chariot,  drawn  by 
four  milk-white  horses.  Such  parade  was  not 
wholly  agreeable  to  the  people,  who  had  not 
seen  so  much  pomp  since  the  expulsion  of  their 
kings. 

A  proposition  was  immediately  made  by  T. 
Siciiiius  Dentatus,  Tribune  of  the  people,  to 
make  a  second  Rome  of  the  city  of  Yeii,  by 
sending  one-half  of  the  Senate,  knights,  and 
people  to  dwell  there.  But  this  proposition 
met  with  "vnrnil  «>j.j»<.>it  ion  from  the  patricians, 
with  Camillus  at  their  head;  and  when  sub- 
mitted to  the  decision  of  the  people  was  prompt- 
ly rejected. 

The  kindly  lei-ling  of  the  people  towards  Ca- 
millus was  not  destined  to  be  of  long  duration. 
It  seems  that  this  great  general,  when  engaged 
in  the  sieire  of  \\-ii,  had  vowed  that  if  success 
attended  his  arms,  he  would  consecrate  the 
tenth  part  of  the  booty  to  Apollo.  But  in  the 
contusion  of  victory  he  forgot  his  vow ;  and  his 
conscience  being  troubled  upon  the  recollection 
of  it,  he  sought,  through  the  aid  of  the  Senate, 
to  compel  the  soldiers  to  return  a  tenth  part  of 
their  booty,  in  order  that  he  might  fulfil  his 
vow.  The  soldiers,  unwilling  to  give  up  their 


I)'  F    Roy.  153 

Camillas  accused— His  exile. 

spoil  u   clamor,  and  declared  that  he 

•nod  with    tin-  patricians  to  keep   the 
le  always   in  in«l:.  lie  wa<  even  ac- 

i   «>V  havini:  embezzled,  out   of  the   pillage 
tin  brass  gates  that  \\viv  -een  in 
.-I  was  summoned  to  answer  to  the 
re  an  assembly  of  the  people. 
M»rtitied  by  such  an  accn-ati«-n,  IK-  appealed 
1'nr  pr«»t«M-ti..M  ;   hut  hcinir  t«»l«l  hy 
them   that   they  cmild   <lo   nothing  more  than 
pay  the  line  that  ini^ht  he  imposed  upon  him, 
he  declared  that   he  w«»uhl  rather  hanish  him- 
:'r..iu  Rome  than  answer  to  such  an  infa- 
mou>  -rdiiiLrly,  t«>  his  house, 

.  his  \\ilt-  and  children,  and,  at- 
tended hy  «»nly  two  <>r  three  friend.-,  went  t«> 
the  gate  of  the  city,  where,  turning  tnwani 
capitol,  he  prayed  the  gods  that  his  im-ratefnl 
c«»untrynu-n  miirht  quickly  repent  the  outra- 
annrr  in  whicli  they  had  repaid  his 
Bervice0;  and  that  their  calamitit  com- 

pel them  to  recall  him.  And  shortly  after  this, 
a  misfortune  came  upon  Rome,  greater  than 
any  which  it  had  hitherto  suffered. 

Ab'»ut   two  hundred  years  previous  to  this 

event,  the  Gauls,  one  of  the  most  numerous  na- 

of  Kurope,  had  migrated  in  large  bodies 

to  Italy,  where  they  established  a  number  of 


154:  KEPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Brenntis  marches  against  Rome. 

very  powerful  settlements.  Milan,  Verona, 
and  Padua,  cities  winch  subsist  at  tlie  present 
day,  are  said  to  have  been  founded  by  them ; 
and  at  the  very  time  when  Camillas  was  en- 
gaged in  besieging  Veii,  these  barbariai, 
they  were  called,  were  endeavoring  to  strength- 
en themselves  by  the  acquisition  of  Tuscany. 
The  city  of  Clusium,  on  the  very  verge  of  fall- 
ing into  their  hands,  sought  aid  from  the  Ro- 
mans, who,  accordingly,  sent  three  amba— a- 
dors  to  Brennus,  leader  of  the  Gauls,  with  in- 
structions to  ell'ect  a  reconciliation  between  him 
and  the  people  of  Clusium. 

These  ambassadors,  thinking  themselves  un- 
civilly treated  by  15ivmm>,  went  to  the  city  of 
Cbisium,  undiT  pretence  of  conferring  with  its 
magistrate-,  and  stirred  them  up  to  a  vigorous 
reM-taiice.  A  report  of  their  proceedings  com- 
ing to  the  ears  of  Brennus,  he  sent  a  herald  to 
Rcme.  who  demanded  that  these  ambassadors 
should  be  delivered  up  to  him.  But  the  affair 
being  referred  -to  the  people,  it  was  resolved 
that  the  ambassadors  should  be  sustained  in 
what  they  had  done,  and  an  army  was  imme- 
diately raided  to  resist  the  Gauls,  if  they  at- 
tempted to  attack  the  city. 

Brennus  became  so  enraged  on  account  of 
these  proceedings,  that,  removing  his  troops 


I);  155 

Battle  between  the  Romans  and  Hauls. 

In  nil  ('lii-ium,  he  marched  directly  t->  K 
Tlie  inhabitants  of  the  eoimtry  lied  before  him; 
aiul  the  IMWIIS  ami  villages  in  his  path  were 
completely  deserted.  JJut  Rome  was  the  ob- 
rath,  and  he  wa-  determined  ..n 
nothing  Lett  tha:i  ItB  i"tal  destruction.  M^: 

ailr.l,  naturally,  in  th 

the    ivjx-rt    nf   hi>    ajij.n.aeli;    but    with 
th«'U>and  tn»Mj»s  it  \va>  h<.|K'(l  that  the  in\ 

Illicit   be  j.llt  to  tli«rht. 

man  jinnies,  aeeonlinirly,  went  01 
the   barbarian-.     They    \\vnt   "Ut    b..Mly, 
too,    lieade<l     by    their    MX    military    tri'h 
VMim%ir  men  «•!'  1a  f  \al«-r  than  eapaeity. 

Near  the  ri\er  Allia.  a  half-day'.- jum 
e  li.i-.tile  armii-s  met.     The\ 
.    drawn   out    in    battle    arrav  uanl 

them-elves  a  'i!iLr  -unfunded,  the    U«»- 

man-  e\te!id.-«l   their  win^s,  plaein^  their  \«t- 
eran  tn»o|»s  UJM.II   the  ri^lit   and   let'r,  and  leav- 
:re  in  a  'iditi<>n.    rJ'he 

(iau!  directed    their    main 

Mivn^th  against  thi>  feel»ly  defended  jmint, 
and,  breakini:-  thr..u_ir!i  the  e«.h.>rts  that  occu- 
pied it,  made  a  ei»mj»lete  ilivi.>i..n  of  the  ene- 
ai-my.  (.'..nl'-undtMl  by  sue h  a  movement, 
the  I:  \  en  di-awin^  their  swords, 

fled  in  every  direction.     Some  ru>hed  with  all 


156  EEPUBLIC   OF  EOME. 

Rome  abandoned  to  its  Enemie?. 

speed  into  the  neighboring  city  of  Yeii ;  others, 
in  hope  of  escape,  plunged  into  the  river  Tiber ; 
and  a  few,  too  swift-footed  for  their  pursuers, 
contrived  to  make  their  way  to  Rome,  where, 
of  course,  they  carried  terror  and  consternation. 
The  Senate  suppling  that  the  whole  army  had 

cut  to  pieces  and  expecting  that  the  <  iauls 
would  immediately  cilect  an  entrance  into  the 
city,  ivnvated  to  the  capitol.  where  they  col- 

d.  Ibr  iN  defence,  all  the  strength  remain- 
ing in  the  city.  Here.  1"".  they  brought  what- 
provi>ii>ns  they  c<>uhl  gather;  but  the 
women,  children,  and  all  such  as  were  incapa- 
ble of  rendering  eliicieitt  aid,  were  excluded 
and  compelled  t«»  shelter  themselves  from  the 

enemy  a-  wi-11   a»  they  could.     Some   took  ref- 

:n   the  neighboring    fields,  and   others   lied 

to   the   adjacent   towns.      There  were,  however. 

among   the   old   senators    and    priests,   a   good 

many  who   disdained    to   take   advantage  of  a 

shelter  which  wa-  denied  to  the  weak  and  help- 

and   who. were.   DKHTeOVer,    <letermined   to 

sncrilice  their  lives  rather  than  abandon  a  city 

where   they  had    >j»ent  all    their  years.     These 

::ihle    men.    dressing    themselves    in    their 

]>riestly  and  consnlar  robe-,  and  assuming  their 

various  emblems  of  oilice,  seated  theinselve>  in 

the  open  doors  of  their  respective  dwellings,  re- 


1>  OF    Ro  lf»7 

The  O:s 

-ubniit  to  whatr  -Mii-iit  the  en- 

emy mi^lit  irive  t! 

Two  or  tluve  days,  however,  elapsed  b< 
the  (ianls  had  suHk-ientl;  :vd   t'n.in  the 

•inirs    attending    their    victory    t«»    enable 
tin-in   to  proceed  to  Rome.     And  when  tlu-y 

them,  and   n-.t   an  obj  :nir  in  t! 

Such  an  uin-\  "\-  naturally  tilled 

with   >u-j»irioii ;    and   passing  within  the 
walls,  tli- _  :   eautiouviy  to  the  riirlit  and 

to  tli,  -.Ian  had 

'.  l»y  which  to  brinir  about  tlu-ir  «le-tnn-ti«»n. 
A«i  along  ti 

gained  niorr  oonl  ]    but  what  wa-  the  as- 

t.'iii-hnient  of  tiie-e  barbarians  a^  the\ 

i   there  a  solitary,  <rray-hrarded  man, 
dressed  in  costly  robe  ai«  <l  at  the 

nt'his  dwi-llinir  in  a  magnificent  chair  «  t'  i 
Tlie    >oldier>   >t"](],cd    and  Lra/.ed   in   aw»-  IIJMHI 

!«-rable  ti^un-s.  who  neiti 
mo\  M   benr   upon   the 

:iscious  of  the  passing  crowd. 
appp-achrd  them  to  admirr  tiieir  splendid  : 
an<l    ilnwing   beards,   but,   apparently. 

:'-h   them.  •    soldier, 

more  COrioiH  ami  more  imj.iident  than  the  oth- 

•lucked  the  t'  one  of  these  venera- 


158  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

The  Destruction  of  Rome. 

ble  men.  Raising  his  ivory  wand,  lie  gave  the 
soldier  a  blow  which  sent  him  reeling  to  a  dis- 
tance. Enraged  to  the  highest  pitch,  the  sol- 
dier returned,  and  with  one  blow  of  his  axe 
felled  the  aged  Roman  to  the  ground. 

As  the  army  advanced  through  the  streets, 
the  old  priests  and  senators,  seated  in  their 
chairs,  were  now  slain,  one  by  one ;  and  of  all 
the  inhabitants  of  Rome  none  were  left  alive 
within  its  walls,  except  those  win*  were  deter- 
mined to  defend  the  capitol.  Thither  Brennus 
hastened  with  his  victorious  troops.  I  hit  in 
vain  did  he  call  upon  its  tenants  to  surrender. 
Nature  had  provided  them  with  ramparts  which 
delianee  to  his  utmost  etli.rts,  and.  in  order 
to  coin  pi  IT.  he  was  forced  to  starve  his  victims 
in  their  >trnngli<»ld.  lie  could,  however,  re- 
venge himself  l'<»r  their  obstinacy,  and  accord- 
ingly turned  his  soldiers  loose  to  pillage  and 
destroy  every  thing  around  them.  The  tire- 
brand  was  applied  to  the  palaces,  of  the  patri- 
cians and  the  "humbler  dwellings  of  the  ple- 
beians. The  sacred  temples  and  the  public 
edifices  were  razed  to  the  ground  ;  and  in  a 
short  time  the  great  city  of  Rome,  famous 
throughout  all  Italy,  and  lately  the  terror  of 
surrounding  nations,  was  nothing  but  a  mass 
of  unsightly  rubbish.  Encamped  amid  its  bro- 


DESTRUCTION   OF   ROME.        159 

KrtWt  "f  i:..nu-'s  u  Camillas. 

ken  colwnns  and  smouldering  ruins  wa-  llren- 
nu>.  with  his  army,  anxiou>ly  waiting  uiitil 
famine  should  terminate  his  work,  l>y  forcing 
the  inmates  of  the  Capitol  to  throw  themselves 
into  hix  power. 

JJtit  the  soldiers  of  Hi-cnnus  could  not  all  sit 
idly  around  the  capital.  Uy  leave  uf  their 
commander,  they  wandered  in  parties,  liere  and 
there,  about  the  country,  preserving  neither  or- 
der nor  di-eipline  in  any  of  their  pn>, 
tor.  heinir  the  masters  ot'  Rome,  they  fancied 
that  the  whole  region  was  under  their  suh- 

jectioiL 

nilius.  ;.  i.  not  far  di-tant, 

wa-  a  >ileiit    >j  tclator  of  what   was  ^oin^  <»n. 

irue  that  lie  if  a  irrcat  suf- 

at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  citizens,  but  the 

calamities   of  his   country   unVctrd   him   more 

than   any   evils  that  he   had  liim-elf  endured  ; 

and  striving  nol)ly  to  forget  hi-  own  wrongs, 

he  undertook  t«»  redress  those  of  hi-  enemies. 

For  a  warrior  of  his  renown,  it  was  no  diffi- 
cult task  to  iind  enough  ready  to  follow  where 
he  should  lead;  and,  with  the  consent  of  the 
-trates  of  Ardea,  he  sallied  forth  one 
night,  with  a  band  of  well-armed  youth,  and 
surprised  a  largo  body  of  Gauls,  who  had  been 
recklessly  indulging  in  wine.  The  slaughter 


160  REPUBLIC   OF   ROMK. 


Camillus  undertakes  to  punish  the  Gauls. 


wa>  terrible  indeed,  and  the  appearance  of 
those  who  escaped  only  served  t<>  inspire  the 
fugitive  .Roman.-,  lurking  heie  and  there,  with 
hope.  They  started  from  their  hiding-place^ 
and  ran  toovthcr  from  every  quarter,  to  inquire 
who  it  w:is  that  had  ri-en  up  to  deliver  Koine 
from  her  invaders.  And  when  they  learned 
that  it  was  Oamillus.  their  irreat  ireneral.  whom 
they  had  compelled  to  jLro  into  exile,  they  he- 
pin  to  condemn  thruiM-lve.-.  and  eagerly  run- 
niiii:  to  him.  pn>elainied  their  j)enitence,  and 
«•<!  liim  to  lead  them  on  airainst  the  (iauls. 
Caniillus  told  tlu-ni  that  he  would  willingly 
his  country,  hut  that  he  was  an  exile,  and 

Incapacitated    from    holding   tin-    ( imand    of 

his  country"-  armies.  IJut  emwdin^  more  nu- 
mt'iMii-ly  every  moment  amuud  liim,  they 
wonld  not  h-t  him  ^o.  Still,  he  would  not  con- 
st-lit, until  they  promised  iir~t  to  send  >«»me  one 
to  Koine  to  know  whether  the  capitol  yet  held 
<»ut.  ami,  in  casi-  it  did,  !••  take  orders  from  the 
Senate,  which  was  >hut  up  within  it. 

This  \va-  a  vei-y  dillieult  task  to  pel-form,  but 
a  yoiinir  Koman  named  Pontius  ( 'ominius  dared 
to  undertake  it.  lie  passed  through  the 
my'.-  ranks,  and  reaching  the  Capitoline  Hill, 
clambered  from  rock  to  rock,  Dealing  }»ivcij»iee 
after  precipice,  and,  encountering  a  tho-,,- 


I> 


.  !innlly  read"  apitol.     Without 

a  moment's  delay.  tho  Senate,  hearing  hi 
.  with  <>!:•  ,  (  'ainillus    I  ' 

to  the  hi«_rhe-t  dignity  ot'  hix  c  >mitry.      Hut   it 

without  any  thinir  t«-  >upp«»rt   it. 

imprisoned  S  --nhl  i'unii>h  him  with 

MiMthiT  in«'iifv,  ii,.  r  anus.  in»r  troop-.     '!'<»  a  »>\- 

tlier   like    ('aniiilu-.it    was.    IH>\\V  little 

bo  ha«l  capti: 

\vlu-n  it  ha«l  withstood  tor 
that  couhl   In.*   lu-nu^lit   a--ain-t    it,  was  al> 
find   -  wbo  OOimted    it  Millicirnt 

to  follow  wh«-!vv»T  li<-  ini_Lrht  h-ad.  'I'lu-y 
-tartc<i  up  Iron  i  every  liill-idc.  and  poured  upon 
him  i  and  riv  In-  c<tuld  conclude 

upon  any  plan   for  dcli\  .  iu-  found 

•\   thoii-and  sold' 
In   the    mean   time    some    of   the    tn.oj. 

ihlinjr  al'oiit   the  (  'aj'iloliuc   Hill, 

1  anionir  the  rocks  t1  if  the 

darinir   Pontiu-.     (in-  iiat    they 

miirht  l>e  the  means  of  indicating  ><>me  passage 

t«>  the  capitnl.  they  traced  them  until  they  fun  ml 

out  how  this   hitherto   inacce--il»le   place  could 

ached.    Tin-*-  made  known 

their  di-r  lirennns.  who.  forming  a  plan 

to  surprise  the  fortre>s,  di«.>e  from  hi- 

ll 


162  EEPUBLIC   OF   HOME. 


Attempt  to  take  the  Capitol— Fate  of  the  Invaders. 

number  of  youths  accustomed  to  mountain  life, 
and  sent  them  out  by  night  to  take  the  place. 
"With  great  difficulty  these  bold  fellows  followed 
the  tracks  of  the  Roman  Pontius,  lending  each 
other  a  helping  hand,  until  they  arrived  at  the 
foot  of  the  wall,  which  on  that  side  was  built 
very  low,  because  so  craggy  a  place  seemed 
safe  from  all  attack. 

Finding  the  sentinel  asleep,  these  Gauls  be- 
gan to  scale  the  wall,  when  some  geese,  con>e- 
crak-d  to  Juno,  awakened  by  the  noise,  made 
a  loud  cackling;  the  sound,  so  unusual  at  mid- 
night, arousrd  the  suspicions  of  M.  Manilas,  a 
con-ular  per.-on,  who  immediately  ran  to  the 
spot  1o  ascertain  the  cau-e.  It  was  impossible 
for  him  to  mistake  it.  and  it  was  equally  im- 
:>le  tor  tlu-  d:>C'»vrivd  invaders  to  retreat. 
Alone  he  face-  the  ennny.  who.  notwithstand- 
ing their  number,  must  light  him  at  a  feait'ul 
disadvantage,  lie  cuN  oil'  the  hand  that  is 
lifting  a  battle-axe  t«»  fell  him  ;  with  his  buckler 
lie  pushe-  another  to  the  bottom  of  the  preci- 
pice; again  and  again,  he  sends  another  tum- 
bling headlong  after,  and  clamoring  as  loudly 
as  he  can,  succeeds  at  last  in  raising  the  gar- 
rison. No  quarter  is  now  grVen  to  the  Gauls, 
who,  finding  it  in  vain  to  fly,  are  successively 
thrown  into  the  abyss  below. 


DESTIM  CTION   OF   ROME.         163 

ft  he  Gauls. 

As  SIM .n  a<  thr  II»>inan-;  in  the  eapitol  found 
themselves  delivered  from  the  great  danger 
that  had  threatened  them,  they  >eized  the  sen- 
tinel who  liad  so  caivle— ly  slept  upon  his  p«»>t. 
and  hurled  him  headlong  from  the  rock;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  they  rewarded  M.  .Manlin>, 
who  l»y  his  coiiraire  and  vigilance  had  saved 
them.  As  the  provisions  of  the  garri>«>n  were 
.  ach  soldier  presented 

him  with  halt'  a  pound  of  meal  and  a  mea-ure 
of  wine. 

It  v  long  before  the  Gauls  th 

tt  to  e.\]'erience  the  inconvenieiico  of  scar- 
eity  almost  as  innch  as  those  whom  they  were 
j-ini:  in  the  eapitol.  Hitherto  they  had 
procured  their  provisions  by  iMlla^i"^  the  sur- 
rounding country;  but,  through  tear  of  the 
army  of  ( 'amillns  they  contined  themselves 
more  cl.»sely  to  the  city,  and  thus  the  besiegers 
\\ere.  in  turn,  tlu-m-clvi-s  lie-ieu'ed.  By  de- 
grees they  l.eiran  to  be  fairly  in  want,  and 
would  have  been  glad  enough  could  they 
have  withdrawn  honorably  from  the  walls  of 
Home. 

During  this  time,  the  Romans  in  the  eapitol 
did  not  know  that  their  Dictator,  Camillus, 
was  working  zealously  for  their  delivery.  Dis- 
tressed by  hunger,  they  resolved  to  enter  into 


I'M  KKITTJLIC   OF    KOMI-:. 


Distress  in  tlie  Capitol— Appear:.  !us. 

•iations  with  I'rennus  I'm- the  surrender  of 
the   capital;    and    intrusted   tlieir   in! 
Sulpicius,  a  military  tribune,  who  agreed  with 
Urenims  to  give  him  a  thousand  pound-*  weight 

•Id,  if  lie  would  immediately  withdraw  his 
army   from    the    dominions    of  the    Kepublie. 

•.'•dmir  1"  agreement  thet«r<>ld  was  brought; 
but  upon  weighing  it  the  GauU  made  use  of 
fabc  balances.  Such  unfairness  cau-ed  a  mur- 
mur among  the  "Ilmnans  ;  but  Urennus,  in 
of  redrc->iniir  tin-  abuse,  pulh-d  ..it'  his  >w<»nl 
nnd  belt,  and  threw  them  int«>  the  >cale.  al- 
ready Mverrhariri'd.  Sulpicius,  enraged  at  >uc\\ 
an  insult.  a-ke<l  him  the  meaning  «»f  his  cun- 
duct.  "What  should  it  be,"  replied  the  bar- 
barian, '*  but  w-  'ie;vd  f% 

Hut  Ca:uillu>.  with  hi>  army,  ad1-  \vitli 

all  >pei-<l.  ar  IJi.me.      Wnnl  having 

-c-nt  t<>  him  that  a  treaty  had  been  I'm 
between    the    inmates   nf  the   eajutol    and    the 
(iauls.  and  that  the  deputies  of  the  former 
now   in   eonfen-iiee   with    1'rennus.  he   immedi- 
ately took  with  him  some  of  his  prineipal  otli- 
oiit  in  haste  for  the  city,      lieacli- 

ihe   jilare   when.'   Sulj  icius   and    Brennufl 

.:end;nic   ab.mt    the  j^'hl,    he   wa-    i'e- 

ceivi-d    with    every    mark    of  attention    by   the 

Koinaii  depurie-.    Sulpieiiis  at  onee  made  known 


iircTiox  OF  ROME. 


Brennus  and  Camillas. 


:n  the  nnfair  dealing  of  1'rennus,  and  ap- 
pealed  to  him  for  ju-t 

"Carryback  this  gold  into  the  capital. " 
Camillas   to   the  deputies    "aiii!  (  «aul<, 

retire  with  y  a  and  weight-.      I:  ifl  with 

alone  that  the  Romans  shall  recover  their 

Cont'nnnded  hy  sueh  lianirhty  lai!  i^ren- 

nns  stood  speech  a  moment,  while  the 

(ijiuls  and  the  U«»man  dejmties  jnvpaivd  to  do 
the   hiddintir  «>t%  Cainillus.     At   lenirth   he   vi-n- 
•-t  airai;  i^s  of  Ca- 

milliH,  as  a  contraveiiti-.n  ui*  a  treaty  air. 

"  I  am   Dietat.T  of  IJ..me,"  ;  (  'ami llus, 

i  who  dares  to  determine  an  affair  of  Mich 
importance  without  my  sanction?  Away  with 
your  ir"ld.  your  w-  ,d  halai 

Ureimus,  recovering  from  his  conl'ii-iun.  re- 
plied with  a-  much  han^htiiu-s  a<  Cainillus, 
and  the  t'.vn  chirt'tain>  separated,  in  order  to 
•  juarrel  by  an  aj»peal  to  arms. 
Without  the  least  delay,  the  army  of  Cainillus 
advancing,  da-hed  with  fury  upon  the  (iauls, 
who  were  promptly  drawn  out  t-  iiem. 

iis  time  dise«»vered   his  match  in 
the  leader  of  the  Roman  His  hr. 

troops  fell  hack,  notwithstanding  I  .  iori- 


EEPUBLIC  OF   ROME. 


The  Gauls  driven  from  Rome—  Appearance  of  the  City. 

ty  of  their  position.  Rallying  them  as  well  as 
he  could,  he  raised  the  siege,  and  retreated 
some  miles  from  Rome.  But  Camillus  was  de- 
termined to  punish  him  for  the  injuries  su-- 
tained  by  Rome.  He  followed  him  in  his  re- 
treat. slew  almost  all  his  soldiers,  and  reco\ 
from  them  the  rich  spoils  which  they  were  car- 
rying away. 

Although  delivered  from  its  enemies,  Rome 
was  not.  at  this  time,  a  place  suitable  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  many  thousands  who 
claimed  if  as  their  home.  Scarcely  a  house 
wa-  >tanding  within  its  walls,  and  the  walls 
themselve-  were,  in  many  places  level  with 
the  ground.  Under  such  circumstances,  i 
not  strange  that  a  proposition  should  he  made 
and  urged,  to  remove,  in  a  mass,  to  the  city  of 
Ycii,  which  was  a  well-fort  i  tied  place,  with 
stately  buildings,  and  surrounded  by  a  fruitful 
territory.  The  Tribunes  advocated  the  plan 
with  the  greatest  ardor,  representing  the  diffi- 
culty which  must  attend  any  attempt  to  rebuild 
a  city  in  the  midst  of  such  immense  hea; 
ruins.  Besides,  the  people  were  exhausted  by 
mi-fortunes,  without  strength,  without  money, 
and  almost  without  provisions*  But  the  Sen- 
ate did  not  agree  with  the  Tribunes,  although 
their  opposition  was  rather  in  the  form  of  pray- 


DESTRUCTION   OF    Etc  167 

The  rebuilding  of  Borne. 

iinl  entreaties.  They  showed  the  people 
the*  tombs  of  their  ancestors;  pointed  to  tlie 
spots  consecrated  to  the  gods  by  Romulus  and 
A'nnia.  and  reminded  them  of  tlie  prophecies 
that  1:  -hould  become  the  mistivs>  of  tlie 

world.     Camillus,  too.  was  among  the  number 
<.»f  those  \\hoopposed  the  proportion  to  aban- 
don Rom  "  said  he,  "that  by  re- 
tiring to                 u  will  assume  the  name  of  a 
conquered  people,  and  l<»e  that  of  Roman 
getherwith  the  glorious  destiny  which  the  gods 
atlixed  to  it.  and  which,  with  your  name, 
will  go  to  the  iir>t  barbarians   that  shall    get 
i    of   the    eapitol,    and    who,    by    this 
change,    may    perhaps    in    time  become  y«»ur 
nd  your  tyr- 

The  words  of  Camillus  acted  like  a  charm 
on  all.  The  pm-pcrt  of  future  empire  was  far 
to  be  preferred,  by  the  Romans,  to  the  pr- 
conveniences  of  life.  The  Tribunes  yielded. 
The  people  declared  that  they  would  not  go  to 
Veii;  and  everyone  falling  to  work,  the  re- 
building of  the  city  went  on  with  such  rapidity, 
that  in  less  than  one  year  it  a>sumed  the  same 
appearance  which  it  presented  on  the  arrival 
of  tlie  dreadful  Brenntis. 

But  scarcely  had  Rome  thus  arisen  from  its 
ashes,  than  its  old  enemies,  the  Tuscans,  the 


168  EE  PUBLIC   OF   Ho  MI:. 

Jealousy  of  M.  Manlius. 


ii,  an<l  the  Yolsci,  leagued  together  for  the 
purpose  of  oppres>ing  it.  Camillas  was  again 

call'-d   to  tlie  Dictatorship;    and,  by  his   con- 
sin  innate  ability  a<  a  general,  succeeded  in  de- 
feating tlieir  armies  and  compelling  them  to 
sue   for  mercy.     In  consequence  of  these  and 
fanner  services  lie  l>ecame  the  idol  of  the  peo- 
ple, who  h<»n<»red  him  with  the  title  of  Reel 
of  the  Country  and  Second  Founder  of  Rome. 
Among  the  fellow-citi/ens  of  Cainillus,  ; 

•  •lie,  however,  who  was  unwilling  t<>  yield 
him  all  the  glory  accorded  freely  by  the 

a<  !Maivu>  "Manlius,   the    l>rave  -t-ldier, 

.  with    his  single  arm.   had   defended   the 
eapilol    wlii-n    alxtut    to    be    surprised    hy   the 
(iauls  at   midnight,     lie   c<>uhl  not  bear  t 
Cainillus  preferred.  bef..re  him.  in  the  command 
of  the   armies;   and.  by  his   fiv<|Ueiit   -peeehes, 

DdeaVOTed  t«.  blaeken  the  character  of  a 
man  wh<>  wa-  admire<l  and  bel«  >ved  by  all. 
AVith  the  d«  Sign,  as  was  said,  of  promoting  his 
ambitious  aims  he  beg  !atter  the  people, 

and  to  impress   them  witli  the  idea  that  he  was 
friendly   to   their    int  lie    renewed    the 

proposals  for  the  division  of  the  lands;  he  even 
sold    his    own    to   aeiplit    the    debts    of  the    <»p- 

-ed  plebeians;  he  interfered  between  d 
ore  and  creditors,  and  was  frequently  insiru- 


DESTRUCTION  OF  ROME.        169 

Troubles  again — Dictator  created. 

mental   in   rescuing  from   prison    those  whom 

ity  had  sent  there.     The-  '  was  as- 

1,  sprang,  ii"t  from  benevolence,  but  from 

lia   whole   aim    being    to    secure 

•T  through  tlie   aid   of  the  lower  el;, 

AVhether  this  was  true  or  nut,  it  is  certain  that 

Manlius   acquired  numerous   1'rieiids  and   sup- 

\  ho,  not  contented  alone  with  l>eM<>\v- 

inir  upon  him  their  praises,  attended  him  often 

as  a  s  ,anl. 

In  time,  the  patricians  began  to  feel  a  good 
deal  of  unea-  itluence  of  ^lun- 

ily  MrongtT  and  strui. 

<ed  it  iiece>sirv  t«»  iv>«»rt  to  tin-  usual  rem- 
edy, \vhieh  wa-  to  create  a  l)ietator.  Tliis  was 
done  on  j.ivtence  that  the  interests  of  Rome 
demanded  an  army  to  be  sent  again>t  the  Vol- 
sci.  Cornelius  Cossus  was  c-h'»-eii  Dictator. 
The  Vnlsei  were  BOQD  reduced  to  submi»ion, 
and  the  Dictator,  returning  to  Ruine,  summoned 
Manlius  to  ap}>ear  before  him.  Manlius  obeyed 
with  promptness,  attended  by  a  concourse  of 
his  friend-.  Failing  to  satisfy  the  Dictator, 
when  charged  with  engaging  in  various  disor- 
derly practices,  he  was  committed  to  prison 
without  making  any  other  resistance  than  an 
appeal  to  the  deities  of  the  capitul,  that  they 
would  protect  their  soldier  and  defender. 


170  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Manlius  placed  in  Prison— His  death. 

The  friends  of  Manlius,  chiefly  plebeians,  in 
token  of  their  sorrow,  dressed  themselves  in 
mourning,  and  even  uttered  seditious  murmur- 
ing. In  order  to  appease  them,  they  were 
offered  lands  belonging  to  one  of  the  newly- 
conquered  towns  ;  but  this  did  not  succeed. 
The  prison  of  Manlius  was  surrounded,  night 
and  day.  by  crowds  of  people,  eager  to  effect 
his  liberty ;  and,  in  order  to  prevent  mischief, 
lie  was  at  length  set  free.  But  the  evil  prac- 
tices of  which  lie  wa-  accused,  were  Mill  .kept 
up,  with  the  very  de-igns  urged  as  reasobs  for 
his  arrest  and  imprisonment. 

Camillus  now,  for  the  fifth  time,  became 
it<>r :  and  such  a  triumph  of  his  rival 
could  nut  he  otherwise  than  tormenting  to  a 
soul  like  that  «•!'  ManliiN.  He  did  not,  of 
course.  1'ail  t<»  te-tify  his  feelings;  and  his  pro- 
ceedings, whether  legal  or  illegal,  were  suffi- 
ciently oH'eii-ive  to  the  patricians  t<>  bring  upon 
him  the  charge  of  aspiring  after  royalty.  Once 
more  he  was  summoned  to  be  tried,  and  the 
charges  against  him  having  been  fully  estab- 
lished, he  was  condemned,  as  is  said,  to  be 
thrown  from  the  Tarpeian  rock — a  spot  which 
was  at  once  the  monument  of  his  glory  and  his 
shame. 


FOREIGN  CONQUESTS. 

FROM   380   TO    120   B.  C. 


CAJRTHAGE  and  ite  People — Ship-building  among  the  Ro- 
mans— First  Naval  Engagement — Expedition  against  Car- 
thage— Regulus  is  taken  Prisoner — His  noble  Conduct — 
Carthaginians  beaten — Peace — The  War  renewed — Hanni- 
bal invadr.s  Italy — Hi^  March — lli>  Success — Opposed  by 
the  Roman  Armies — Artifice  of  Hannibal — Defeat  of  the 
Roman.— Palnntisui  of  Scipio — The  Romans  encour.u 
Hannibal  rallrd  Ibuno — Misfortunes  of  Carthaire — 1' 
— Tiberius  and  Caius  Gracchus — Ambition — Agrarian  I.u\v 
— Designs  of  Tiberius  defeated — His  Artifice — His  Deatli — 
Caius  and  Drusus — Death  of  Caius. 


VII. 

FOREIGN  CONQUESTS. 


IT  was  almost  five  hundred  years  before  the 
Unmans  had  so  i'ar  subdued  the  nations  by 
which  they  were  surrounded,  as  to  think  of 
spreading  their  conquests,  beyond  the  limits  of 
Italy.  .Hut  they  no  sooner  felt  themselves  to 
be  perfect  masters  of  the  countries  near  them, 
than  they  determined  to  carry  their  arms  be- 
yond the  sea;  and  the  first  foreign  war  which 
they  undertook  was  with  Carthage,  a  rich  and 
powerful  city,  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 

The  foundation  of  Carthage  was  laid  about  a 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  years  before  that  of 
Koine.  All  its  citizens  were  merchants,  and 
traffic  was  esteemed  among  them  far  above 
the  profession  of  arms.  The  fleets  of  Carthage 
were,  however,  among  the  most  powerful  in  the 
world,  and  no  one  doubted  her  superiority  upon 
the  sea,  over  which  she  had  extended  her  do- 
minion, quite  to  the  coasts  of  Spain,  and  in  the 


174  EEPUBLIC   OF  HOME. 

The  Romans  engage  in  Ship-building. 

islands  of  Sicily,  Corsica,  and  Sardinia.  But 
the  conquests  of  Carthage  were  effected,  chiefly, 
by  the  aid  of  foreign  troops,  and,  in  some  c 
even  under  the  command  of  hired  generals. 
Rome,  on  the  other  hand,  reared  her  own  mi- 
litia, and  her  officer.-  were  taken  from  among 
those  who  had  been  brought  up  to  fight  her 
•les. 

A  great  sea  lay  between  Rome  and  Cart! 
and  Home  had  not  a  single  ship  to  launch  upon 
it,  nor  had  the  a  single  sailor  or  naval  captain 
ain<»ng  all  her  legions.  But  her  people  were 
ingenious,  diligent,  and  never  di>couraged  by 
tlie  greatest  labotB.  When  they  had  formed 
the  resolution  to  gather  glory  and  wealt! 
vend  the  waves,  it  was  not  long  before  they 
found  the  means  < »f  carrying  thi>  resolution  into 
effect.  Hitherto  they  had  never  paid  the  least 
attention  to  the  construction  of  the  ves>el>  that 

ieiihilly.  or  otherwise,  vi>ited  their  c< 
but    no\\.  a   (.'arthaginian  galley  having   been 
driven  to  them  by  >tre>s  of  weather,  tln-y  » 
upon   it    eagerly,  and   taking  it  for  a  model, 
built,  within  two  months,  a  fleet  sufficiently 
powerful  to  commence  their  enterprise  agi 
the  great  city,  whose  dominion  upon  the  sea 
it  was  their  intention  to  dispute.     Their  first 
naval   engagement   was  successful,   too ;    and 


FOREIGN   CONQUESTS.          175 

First  naval  Engagements. 

their  first  naval  commander,  in  honor  of  his 
achievements,  was  ever  attended  at  night,  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  lite,  with  flambeaux 
and  music. 

Encouraged  by  their  early  hiicce-,  they  in- 
civa-i-d,  rapidly,  their  fleets,  and  spreading 
them  <>\vr  the  sea,  made  them-elves  the  mas- 
ters of  Agrigentnm,  and  of  the  chief  towns  in 
that  inland  ;  tliey  took  Aleria,  tlie  capital  of 
Corsica,  Olbia  in  Sardinia,  and,  finally,  car- 
ried their  victorious  arms  to  the  very  gates  of 
( 'arthage. 

L.  Manlius  and  Attilins  Regains  commanded 
the  first  uYi-t  that  was  sent  to  Carthage.  It 
cnn>i-t»-(l  of  three  hundred  and  forty  ships,  with 
a  hundred  and  forty  thousand  troops.  But  be- 
fore they  iv  ached  their  destination,  the  Cartha- 
ginians met  them  on  the  sea,  with  an  e<jual 
armament.  The  struggle  was  a  long  and  des- 
perate  one,  the  Carthaginians  having  the  ad- 
vantage of  lighter  vessels  and  better  sailors. 
Fortune  seemed  uncertain  where  to  choose ; 
but,  the  Roman  vessels  finally  grappling  with 
those  of  the  Carthaginians,  the  fighting  began 
foot  to  foot,  and,  as  it  were,  on  dry  land.  Then 
it  was  that  the  Romans  got  the  better  of  their 
enemies.  They  fought  like  madmen,  deter- 
mined to  conquer  or  to  die.  The  Carthagin- 


176  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Expedition  against  Carthage. 

ians  were  slaughtered  by  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands. The  sea  was  perfectly  red  with  blood, 
and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  floated  far  and  wide 
on  every  hand.  Ship  after  ship  was  disabled 
and  sunk,  until  the  whole  Carthaginian  fleet 
was  completely  scattered. 

The  Romans  obtaining,  in  this  way,  a  free 
passage  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  succeeded  in 
Handing,  and  immediately  began  to  ravage  the 
country  in  a  most  terrible  manner.  In  a  short 
time  Manlins  >ailed  buck  to  Italy,  with  twenty- 
seven  thousand  prisoners,  while  Regains,  ac- 
cording to  the  instructions  of  the  Senate, 
continued  his  conquests.  Success  attended 
him  wherever  he  went,  until  finally  he  brought 
his  army  to  the  walls  of  Carthage.  By  this 
time  tlu-  city  was  crowded  t<>  overflowing  by 
the  terrified  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding 
country,  who  had  tied  thither  for  protection; 
and  Kciruln>  had  not  been  long  about  the  Avails 
with  his  besH-iriiiir  army,  before  the  Carthagin- 
ians began  to  experience  all  the  terrors  of  fam- 
ine and  sickness. 

The  Carthaginians,  relying  but  little  upon 
their  ability  to  cope  with  an  enemy  that  had 
thus  far  beaten  them  by  sea  and  land,  were 
very  desirous  of  entering  into  negotiations; 
and  Regulus  himself,  contented  with  his  vie- 


FOREIGN  CONQUESTS.          177 

Advantages  gained  over  the  Carthaginians. 

.  was  not  averse  to  it.  But  as  he  held 
Carthago  completely  in  hi*  power,  he  felt  that 
he  had  a  right  to  impose  upon  them  such  terms 
as  he  pleased,  and  accordingly  agreed  to  re- 
move his  army  on  condition  that  the  Cartha- 
ginians should  deliver  up  to  Rome  the  islands 
of  Sicily  and  Sardinia, "give  liberty  to  all  the 
prisoners  that  they  had  taken,  defray  the  e\- 
'  the  war,  pay  an  animal  tribute,  never 
undertake  a  war  without  the  consent  of  the 
Senate,  keep  hut  one  large  ship  in  their  navy, 
and  furnish  h'fty  galleys,  completely  equipped, 
whenever  the  interest  of  Rome  might  require 
them. 

These  terms  imposed  by  the  Romans  were 
considered  very  hard  by  their  enemies,  but 
ilus,  who  thought  himself  master  of  the 
country,  replied — "That  enemies  must  either 
conquer,  or  submit  to  the  law  of  the  con- 
queror." This  rendered  the  Carthaginians  des- 
perate;  and  accordingly,  mu>tering  all  their 
forces,  and  marching  out  into  the  open  field, 
under  the  command  of  Xantippus,  a  Lacede- 
monian general,  they  offered  battle  to  the 
Romans.  Their  position  was  admirably  cho- 
M-n.  while  that  of  the  Romans  was  not.  But 
the  Rumans,  having  been  hitherto  successful, 
began  to  despise  their  foes,  and  rushed  upon 
12 


178  REPUBLIC  OF  KOME. 

Eegulus,  the  Roman  General,  taken  Prisoner. 

them  with  deafening  shouts.  The  Carthagin- 
ians maintained  their  ground  like  men  deter- 
mined  to  conquer  or  to  die;  and  in  a  short 
time,  by  means  of  their  elephants  and  cavalry, 
succeeded  in  putting  the  Romans  to  flight,  with 
a  loss,  of  thirty  thousand  men.  Kegulus,  their 

ral,  was  taken  prU'>iu-r,  and  being  loaded 
with  cliains.  wa-  carried  to  Carthage  and  con- 
iined  in  a  gl"..my  dungeon. 

The  war  between  these  two  nations  wa<  still 
continued  with  the  same  anii  .  ;e»melill- 

iie  seas  with  her  navies,  ami  pouring  into 

Africa    her   countless  soldiers.     >  IOID6- 

times   amended    One   side,   and  sometimes  the 

other;    but    the    Carthaginians   having   finally 

B  number  ••!'  battles  took  Regulus  from  his 

:it  him  to  liome  to  solicit  a  p> 
or,  at    h  ,  of  priMiners.      lie  fore 

:.  h.iwevi-r,  he  was  compelled  to  make  a 
promise,  that  he  would  return  to  Carthage  if 
he  failed  in  his  DUflVOO,  and  was  moreover  told 
that  his  life  depended  upon  his  siicc«- 

The  joy  of  the  Senate  at  having  thus  an  op- 
port  unit  v  to  liberate  their  brave  and  faithful 
general  was  very  great,  and  they  would  have 
willingly  testiiied  their  regard  for  him  by  buy- 
ing hi-  frei-doni  at  any  price,  lint  Kegulus 
labored  earnestly  against  his  own  interest,  and 


FOBB]  N  QUESTS.  179 

Tho  Carthaginians  beaten— Peace. 

succeeded  in  persuading  hlB  fellow-countrymen 

to  continue  the  war.     Then,  without  entering 
his  house,  or  seeing  hi<  wife  and  children. 
he   should  ho   softened    by  their  tears,   h- 
turned  to  Cartha-.  ding  to  his  promise, 

when-  he  i  in  the  most  cruel  turnn 

After  a  great  deal  of  lighting,  the  Roman- 
finally  gained  such  advantage  over  the  Cartha- 
ginians that  the  latter  were  «'l>liLr*''l  OHC6  more 
to  sue  for  peace,  which  was  irranted,  upon  the 
hardest  conditions.  Tlu-y  were  conipi-lled  to 
ahandon  the  i>land  of  Sicily.  t<»  re-tore  all  pri-- 

iiont   ran-oni,  t«»  ^ive  up  all  d 
to  pay  <lown  a  thousand  talents  for  the  charge 
of  the  war,  and  two  thousand  two  hundred  in 

two  y  way  of  tribute.    The  Oarthagin- 

.  were  glad  to  obtain  peace  even 

upon  re    term-  ;    hut    it   was   n- 

niuch  peace,  that  tlu-y  <h->ired.  as  a  truce.  Tliey 
liadsutl'ered  trrril.lv,  and  needed  time  to  repair 
their  fore  -oon,  then,  as  they  found  them- 

selves in  a  condition  to  light,  they  took  up  arms 
with  even  greater  fury  than  before. 

The  famous  Hannibal  was,  no  doubt,  the 
cait-o  of  this  second  war,  memorable  for  some 
of  the  most  daring  exploits  that  are  found  re- 
corded upon  the  page  of  history.  AVhen  this 
great  Carthaginian  general  was  only  nine  years 


180  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

The  War  renewed— Hannibal  invades  Italy. 

of  age  he  accompanied  his  lather  in  the  war 
against  Spain,  and  at  that  time  swore,  at  the 
altar,  eternal  hatred  to  the  Roman-.  Faithful 
to  this  early  vow,  he  took  the  first  opportunity 
to  bring  about  a  violation  of  the  tre;t 
inn1  between  Carthage  and  Rome;  and  as  soon 
as  war  was  declared  on  the  part  of  Rome,  he 

ut  lor  Italy  with  an  army  of  ninety  thou- 
sand toot  -oldier-.  t<»rty  elephant-,  and  twelve 
thousand  cavalry.  AVith  this  immense  army, 
lie  tr;  <  iaul  in  the  depth  of  winter.  .His 

acroefl   tin-  Alp-  wa-  accomplished   in 
nine  day.-,  hut   tin-  dc-perate  journey  wa-  per- 
formed at   the  expense  ot'  -i\   thousand    1. 
mm  and   .-evenly  tliousand   fo  linen,  who   p(-r- 

1  Irom  tin-  hardship.-  which  they  were 
ioivcd  to  in:-  Capturing  Turin,  he  siip- 

plied    his    nec.U    tro..p-    with    pr.»vi-ioii>,    and 

u raged  tin-  pr« .pie  of  Cisalpine  (Jaul  to 
join  his  standard.  AVith  all  .-pci-d  he  tin 
out  for  Koine;  hut  the  army  of  that  Republic, 
under  the  cmuUict  of  Cornelius  Scipio,  ad- 
vanced in  the  mean  time  to  re>isi  him.  and  on 
the  hanks  of  the  river  Ticinus  they  met.  The 
liattle  was  Moody,  but  the  day  was  decided  by 
a  charge  ot'  the  Numidian  horse,  which  left 
.Hannibal  master  of  the  Held.  The  lite  of  the 
Roman  general  wa>  saved  by  hi-  .-on  Publius 


FoKKHiX     HONQUKSTS.  181 

Armir*  M-nt  from  !:  .bal's  March. 

Scipio,   who    afterwards   gained    >••    iniu-h   dis- 
tinction in  the  war  with  the  Carthaginians. 

A  MM-. -nd  army,  under  the  command  of  Tibe- 
rius Sempronius,  was  now  sent  against  Hanni- 
bal, but  with  no  better  success — the  Romans 
g  their  cam]),  and  twenty-six  thousand 
men.  \\y  this  time,  Hannibal  was  willing  to 
give  his  army  re>r.  and  accordingly  he  retired 
into  winter  quarters.  But  the  K<>mans,  mean- 
while, were  in  it  idle.  Their  empire  in  Italy 
•iisly  threatened,  and  whatever  they 
could  do  t«>  i-epel  the  .-uece.-sful  invader  must 
!>e  doiu-  prnmprly.and  vigorously.  Two  larirc 
armi-  berafon  raised,  and  fully  eipiipped 

for  the  iMi>uinir  campaign.  Tln-e  wen-  sent  to 
the  pa— es  of  the  Apennines  ;  but  llannibal.de- 
tennininir  to  enc«>nnter  only  one  of  them 
time,  enmed  the  mountain-,  and  traver.-ed  the 
Clu.-ian  Mar-h.  F«.r  f«»ur  days  and  ni^ht.-  his 
army  march(Ml  through  water;  and  he  him>elf, 
nmimted  on  the  only  remaining  elephant,  bare- 

\cd  his  own  life,  and  lo-t  an  eye  in  o 
<|iience  of  an  intlammation.  As  soon  as  he 
found  a  solid  footing,  he  sought  to  engage  in 
battle  the  army  under  r'laminius.  lie  laid 
wa>te  with  lire  and  sword  the  whole  country 
around  him,  and  pretended  that  he  was  about 
marching  upon  the  city  of  Koine.  Flaminius, 


182  RK PUBLIC    OF    EOME. 


Artifice  of  Hannibal 


induced  to  keep  nearer  to  him  than  was  pru- 
dent, was  suddenly  attacked,  upon  the  borders 
of  the  Lake  Thrasymenus,  and  his  army  was 
completely  cut  to  pieces  before  he  could  dis- 
play his  colors.  Hannibal  now  marched  into 
Apulia,  spreading  terror  wherever  he  went. 
Meanwhile  another  army,  under  the  command 
of  Fabius  Maximus,  was  sent  out  to  oppose 
him.  With  this  general.  Hannibal  experienced 
more  trouble  than  with  those  whom  he  had 
been  hitherto  obliged  to  encounter.  Fabius 
almo-t  equalled  him  in  the  r.-e  nf  stratagem, 
and  so  completely  bairied  him  in  his  designs, 
tliat  lie  >carcely  knew  what  to  do.  But  Han- 
nibal outwitted  him  at  last.  Finding  him- 
self suddenly  >\\u{  between  impassable  rocks 
and  mar-lies,  he  cnlk-ctcd  a  thousand  oxen,  and 
labelling  burning  torches  to  their  horns,  drove 
them  furiously,  at  midnight,  into  the  deiiles 
which  were  guarded  by  the  Unmans.  Panic- 
struck,  by  the  terrible  >ight,  the  guards  fled 
fr«m  their  p«»ts,  and  Hannibal  forced  his  way 
through  the  Unman  ranks. 

Delay  was  disastrous  to  the  Carthaginians, 

whenever  a  .Unman  army  was  hovering  around 

them.     Their  dependence  for  support  was  upon 

the  territory  in  which  they  happened  to  be  lo- 

:  ;  and  it  wa*  nece>>ary  fur  them  to  meet 


CONQUESTS.  183 


Defeat  of  the  Romans— They  recover. 


opposition  with  the  utmost  promptness.  Being 
now  in  possession  of  Camue,  they  used  every 
effort  to  bring  the  Eomans  to  an  engagement, 
but  for  ;i  time  were  unsuccessful.  It  was  finally 
bi*i night  about,  and  the  li»nnan  army  was  to- 
tally de.-troyed.  Rome  lo-t.  as  is  .-aid,  fifty 
thousand  men  ;  and  the  conqueror  sent  to  Car- 
thage tw<>  bushels  of  gold  rings,  to  show  the 
incredible  number  of  Roman  knights  that  had 
fallen  in  the  battle.  It  is  quite  probable  that 
Hannibal  would  have  made  himself  master  <>1 
the  city  without  striking  a  bl«»\v,  if  he  had  at 
thi>  time  marched  his  victorious  jinny  dii'ectly 
t»  K«»nif.  Acting,  Imwi-vi-r.  a<  if  he  feared  to 
put  an  end  to  the  war  t<>,»  snon.  he  lingi-red  in 
Campania,  under  pretence  that  his  troop-  : 

ed  some  ivpoM-.    Thi-  gave  the  Romans  time 

r  from  their  consternation,  and  to  take 
3   for  preserving  themselves  fn>m  total  de- 
struction.    It  wa-  to  the  young  Scipio  that  they 
were  mainly  indebted  f<»r  this  success. 

After  the  battle  of  Caniuv.  lie,  with  a  number 
of  other  officers,  retired  to  a  neighboring  town, 
which  still  held  for  the  Itomans,  and  while  oc- 
cupied at  the  house  of  a  friend  was  informed 
that  these  officers,  in  despair  of  saving  the  Re- 
public, had  assembled  at  a  certain  place  for  the 
purpose  of  making  arrangements  to  abandon 


184  KKITHLIC   OF   ROME. 


Conduct  of  ?cij>io— The  Romans  enc<>  . 


Italy.  Extremely  indignant  at  Mich  conduct, 
he  repaired  immediately  to  the  assembly,  and 
entering  with  his  drawn  sword  in  liand,  lie 
cried  out:  "I  swear  that  I  will  never  abandon 
the  Republic,  nor  suffer  any  of  her  citizen-  to 
do  it.  Whoever  here  >hall  refu-e  to  take  this 
oath  which  I  have  taken,  shall  perish  beneath 
jny  sword!" 

Ashamed  of  their  conduct,  and  willing  to  do 
any  thing  to  atone  for  it,  they  took   the 

•ribed  by  Scipio.  S'>me  repaired  to  Rome, 
and  other-  undertook  to  rally  the  allies,  so  that 
hope  began  to  spring  up  in  the  1  if  the 

people.  Kvery  i-libr;  \vj»>  made  to  repel  Ilan- 
nihal.  Hie  citizens  armed  their  slaves.  Tliey 

their  silver  and  their  gold.  They  took 
down  from  the  r<.of>  of  the  temples  the  old 
arms  that  had  been  hung  up  there  as  trophies, 
and  gave  them  to  the  tr«mps.  Q.  Fabins  Max- 
iuius,  leader  of  the  Roman  army  at  h«»ine.  by 
all  sorts  of  artiiice  and  delays,  1'uiU-d  the  Car- 
thaginian general"  at  every  step.  Scipio.  I«H>, 
at  the  head  <>f  the  ]I«'iiian  army  in  Africa,  was 
gaining  battle  after  battle,  and  daily  threaten- 
ing the  deMruction  of  Carthage.  lie  had  there 
gained.  a>  allies,  the  two  powerful  king-, 
phax  and  Ma>:ni.--a;  and  so  great  was  his  siic- 
.  that  the  Carthaginians  were  compelled  to 


!•'-•  CON  Q  TESTS.  185 

:irtbacrinians  compolled  to  mak«    I 

call  Hannibal  home  to  defend  his  own  country. 
•  two  «:rt  met  near  Zaina.  with 

the  full  knowledge-  that  the  battle  about  to  be 

fought  between  them,  would  decide  the  empire 

and   the   liberty  of   their   ropcctive  countries. 

>.  h«>\v  much  depended  on 

their  spirit  and  courage.  Succos,  under  such 
circumstances,  was  lor  a  Jong  time  doubtful, 
hut  victory  at  last  declared  forScipio.  ri\vc-nty 
thousand  Carthaginianfl  tell  ii})on  the  lield,  and 
;ial  numher  were  taken  prisoners. 

It  was  now  impossihle  l«>r  ('artha^e  t->  make, 
any  further  resistance  to  K.,nu-.  l\ace  must 
be  obtained  at  almost  any  price,  and  even  the 
proud  Hannihal  him>clf  wa-  ohli^-d  to  >ue  for 
il.  P.ut  the  lioman-  woiihl  nut  <^rant  it  e\cr])t 
on  the  hard.  They  compelled  the 

Carthaginiane  •  all  their  ileet-,  and 

their  elephants;  they  forced  them  to  restore 
all  their  pri-om-rs  and  to  deliver  up  all  doert- 
ers;  they  made  them  pay  immen-e  >ums  of 
money;  forhid  them  to  make  alliances  with 
other  nation-,  or  to  eniraire  in  war,  without  the 
knowledge  and  express  permi-Mon  of  the  Ro- 
man Senate. 

The  deplorable  condition  of  Carthage  was 
rendered  even  more  deplorable  through  the 
implacable  hatred  of  Masini^u,  king  of  Xu- 


186  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 


Fall  of  Carthage— Aspirations  of  Rome. 


midia.  Protected  by  Rome,  this  old  enemy 
deprived  the  Carthaginians  of  the  best  part  of 
their  possessions,  and  destroyed  their  trade  in 
the  interior  of  Africa.  But,  more  than  all  this, 
the  Romans,  seeing  them  so  enfeebled,  and 
still  remembering  the  injuries  sustained  at 
their  hand<  in  the  battle*;  of  Thrasymenus  and 
CamiJi'.  resolved  upon  their  total  destruction. 
And  now  the  third  war  with  Carthage  beiran, 
but  it  wa-  not  of  so  long  duration  as  the  two 
preceding.  That  stately  city,  which  had  pre- 
sumed to  dispute  the  empire  of  the  world  with 
"Rome,  fell,  and  it>  inhabitants  were  scat' 
amonir  the  ditferent  nations  of  the  earth. 

And    n«»\v    Koine,    eh-vated    to    the    In'-' 
pitch    by  Mich   a  triumph,   aspired    to  the  con- 
qur-t  of  tin-  whole  earth.     Their  military  lead- 

:md  their  armies  marched  forth  in  every 
direction.  The  irivat  Antiochus,  who  ruled 
o\vr  the  larger  part  of  Asia,  was  driven  by 
them  from  his  poeeessions.  They  c«»n(]iiercd 
the  Insubrians  an<l  thi>  Li^urian-.  They  re- 
duced Macedon  as  well  as  Illyrium  into  pr-»v- 

5.  Tlie  Greeks,  too,  fell  under  their  do- 
minion. In  one  word,  all  Italy,  Spain.  Illyrium 
quite  to  the  Danube,  Africa,  Greece,  Thrace, 
Macedon,  Syria,  all  the  kingdoms  of  Asia  Mi- 
nor, became  members  of  the  Roman  Empire ; 


FOREIGN  CONQUESTS.  187 


Tiberius  and  Ca'us  Gracchus. 


and  the  name  of  Rome  struck  terror  and  re- 
spect among  all  the  nation-  of  the  earth. 

With  so  much  success,  came  the  greatest  lux- 
ury :  and  the  manm-rs  of  the  Roman* •offered 

so  much  change  by  their  good  fortune,  that  they 
seemed  altogether  another  people.      The  up- 
rightness for  which  they  had  been  held  in  such 
in,  became  corrupted  by  the  pleasure  of 
conquest  and  dominion.    Ambition,  rather  than 
justice,   governed   their  undertakings;    seltish- 
succeeded  the   care  formerly  manifested 
f<>r   the    public  good;    and  patriotism   almost 
eea-ed  to  i-xist  among  them. 

In  this  state  of  things  arose  Tiberius  Grac- 
chus and  Caius  Gracchus,  names  too  familiar 
in  'Roman  history  to  be  numbered  with  those 
which  can  be  mentioned  only  where  the  great- 
est minuteness  is  to  be  observed.  These  bro- 
thers were  grandchildren  of  the  great  Scipio, 
and  their  sister  marrying  the  younger  Scipio, 
they  were  thu<  related  to  the  most  powerful 
families  in  the  Republic.  Their  mother,  Cor- 
nelia, bestowed  upon  them  a  most  excellent  ed- 
ueation.  She,  one  day,  being  in  the  company 
of  a  Roman  lady  who  wras  displaying  her  jew- 
els, was  asked  to  exhibit  hers.  Sending  at  once 
l«  >r  her  two  sons,  she  pointed  to  them  and  ex- 
claimed :  "  These  are  my  jewels." 


188  KE PUBLIC   OF   ROME. 


Ambition  of  Tiberius  fostered  by  his  Mother. 


Tiberius,  the  elder,  wa-  endowed  by  nature 
with  all  those  graces  which  serve  as  a  recom- 
mendation to  merit.  He  was  also  noted  for  his 
moderation,  frugality,  and  public  spirit;  and, 
at  an  early  age,  had  made  himself  conspicuous 
in  the  military  service.  Under  the  command 
of  his  brother-in-law,  Scipio,  lie  a— :.-ted  at  the 
of  Carthage,  and  was  the  first  man  who 
mounted  the  walls  of  the  burning  city.  At  the 
age  of  thirty  he  was  considered  one  of  the  best 
orators  of  Rome;  but  those  who  were  jealous 
of  ins  ri.-ing  merit  insinuated  that  he  . 
inordinate  ambition,  an  implacable  h; 
against  the  Senate,  and  a  pretended  zeal  for 
the  interest-  of  the  people. 

His  mother.  Cornelia,  is  reported  to  hav« 
coin-aired  his  ambition  by  saying  that  people 
spoke  of  her  as  the  mother-in-law  of  Scipio, 
and  n«»t  as  the  mother  of  the  (iracchi.  u  Your 
l)rotlier-in-law,  Scipi..,"  she  continually  >aid. 
"stand-  in  the  lir>l  rank  among  the  captains 
and  generals  of  thfi  Republic;  make,  now.  your 
own  name  distinguished  by  the  establishment 
of  laws  useful  to  the  peoj 

'Whether  at  the  solicitation  of  his  mother  or 
not.  it  is  quite  certain  that  lie  oii'ered  himself 
as  a  candidate  for  the  tribuneship  of  the  ]n-o- 
ple,  and  he  was  duly  invested  with  this  oilice. 


FOREIGN  CONQUESTS.          189 

The  Agrarian  Law. 

Hi-  attention  had  been,  doubtless,  called  to  the 
poverty  of  the  lower  classes  ;  and  the  success- 
ful application  of  a  remedy  would  certainly 
place  his  name  as  conspicuously  before  the 
world  as  that  of  his  illustrious  brother-in-law, 
Scipio.  He  undertook  the  task,  but,  lijve  most 
reformers  and  servants  of  the  people,  whether 
selfish  or  unselfish,  he  reaped,  in  the  end,  sor- 
row and  >hame. 

Two  hundred  and  thirty-two  years  had  now 
d  since  the  enactment  of  the  Agrarian 
law,  by  which  it  was  declared  that  no  person 
should  possess  more  than  five  hundred  acres  of 
the  public  domain,  and  that  the  overplus  should 
be  divided  among  the  plebeians.  This  law 
had  ever  remained  a  dead  letter,  and  Tiberius 
knew  th;;  :  val  woidd  only  meet  with  the 

strongest  opposition  from  the  higher   cl; 
Hut   he  managed   to   bring   it  up,  with  >everal 
;iing  clauses.     lie  provided  that  the   pos- 
rs  of  Mir] >lu-  lands  should  receive  compen- 
>ation  for  the  buildings  and  other  improvements 
erected   on   them;    that  every  sun  who  w; 
age  might  possess  the  whole  quantity  allowed 
by  law  to  a  citizen  and  householder;   and  that 
every  son  under  age  might  possess  half  that 
quantity. 

But  the  nobles  and  rich  citizens  of  Koine  re- 


190  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Designs  of  Tiberius  defeated. 

jected  the  propositions  of  Tiberius  with  con- 
tempt, and  stigmatized  him  as  a  promoter  of 
sedition  and  a  disturber  of  the  public  peace ; 
and  to  counteract  his  plans,  they  gained  over 
one  of  the  Tribunes  of  the  people,  Marcus  Oc- 
tavius,  without  whose  consent  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  enact  the  modified  law.  According 
to  custom,  however,  Tiberius  exposed  his  law 
nineteen  days  to  the  view  of  the  people,  and 
then  proceeded  to  take'  their  votes  upon  it. 
But  Octavius  interposed  with  his  veto,  and  the 
whole  undertaking  seemed  thus,  at  once,  to  be 
defeated. 

Tiln-riiis  wa>  not,  however,  to  be  so  easily 
thwarted  in  his  designs;  and  while  the  great 
men  of  Rome  were  triumphing  over  his  defeat, 
he  was  taking  measures  to  put  a  speedy  termi- 
nation to  their  joy. 

At  the  next  assembly  of  the  people  he  arose 
•ad  thus  addressed  them:  "Since  custom  will 
not  allow  a  Tribune  to  propose  any  new  law,  if 
but  one  of  his  colleagues  forbids  it,  it  is  but 
justice  that  I  should  submit  to  the  opposition 
of  Octavius.  But  then  as  the  tribuneship  was 
created  with  a  view  to  the  redressing  of  the 
people's  grievances,  and  as  that  Tribune,  who 
for.-akes  this  view,  destroys  the  very  foundation 
of  this  institution,  I  demand  that  the  people,  by 


FOREIGN   CONQUESTS.          191 


His  artifice— The  Law  revived. 


plurality  of  voices,  decide  which  of  the  two, 
( Jctavius  or  I,  acts  most  contrary  to  their  in- 
terests; and  that  he  who  is  judged  to  have 
failed  in  his  duty,  and  to  have  abused  his  priv- 
ilege of  opposition,  be  immediately  deposed." 

This  proposition  of  Tiberius  was  at  once 
unanimously  approved ;  and  the  vote  being 
taken  without  delay,  Octavius  was  excluded 
from  the  tribuneship.  Thus,  every  obstacle  to 
the  law  being  removed,  it  was  revived,  and 
three  commissioners,  or  triumvirs,  were  chosen 
to  attend  to  the  division  of  the  lands.  But  the 
difficulties  attending  this,  now  appeared  in  their 
full  light.  Complaint!  of  the  bitterest  kind 
proceeded  from  every  part  of  Italy,  and  Tibe- 
rius  began  to  find  his  enemies  daily  increasing 
around  him.  Endeavoring  to  regain  the  favor 
of  the  people,  he  occupied  himself  in  devising 
new  plans  for  promoting  their  interest ;  but  so 
zealously  did  the  patricians  labor  against  him, 
that,  when  the  day  for  electing  the  Tribunes  of 
the  following  year  arrived,  it  was  found  impos- 
sible to  hold  any  election  at  all.  And  on  the 
next  day,  such  a  noisy  multitude  beset  the  Fo- 
rum, that  Tiberius  strove  in  vain  to  raise  his 
voice  among  them. 

Alarmed  for  his  own  safety,  the  Tribune 
beckoned  to  his  nearest  friends,  and,  wishing 


192  REPUBLIC  OF  HOME. 


Death  of  Tiberius. 


t<>  intimate  to  them  that  his  life  was  in  danger, 
In-  touched  his  head  with  the  end  of  his  ti 
"*He   wishes  a  crown!"    shouted   Lis  cue: 
"  Whoever  h.ves  the   Republic,  let  him  follow 

cried  his  own   kin-man,  Scipi«- 
and    at  the  head  of  hi-   follower-   h<-   nia<!e   an 

•  upon  Til»eriu<  and  his  friend-.  A 
tnninit  ensued.  The  friends  of  Tilu'riu-.  torri- 
iie<l,  abandoned  him.  They  ran  in  every  di- 
>n;  and  Tilieriu-  liini-t-lf,  llin^ini:-  away 
liis  milts  of  office,  darted  from  his  tribunal, 
and  ran  '  bit  lilt'.  He  tell.  ho\\e\cr.  in 

liis  tli^'ht.  ami.  at  the  same  time  ne.-ivin^  a 
blow  iijM.n  the  head  fmm  KmM  one  near,  never 
aii-ain  ar«r-e  t«»  hi-  f»-et.  \\"ith  him  three  hun- 
dred «•!'  his  friends  and  adheivnt>  \\i-re  slain 
and  tlnni:  int«»  th- 

The    A  ;.i-onian.  law  was   in 

iS8   atiected    by   the   death   of  Tii»erins.      It 
still  continued   in  full  -ed   n«»t  to 

be  the  source  of  i  mmotions.    <  hie  of  the 

(•Minmi-  aj'j.oinied    to    ezeCUt 

Ml   sho  of  ihe  mnnK-red 

Til»erius;   and,  for  ; -i-veni.  .   !  e-me  wa>  the 

theatre   of  c   .  between  the  pa- 

tricians and  plebeian-.  Cain-  (iraechus,  bro- 
ther of  Tiberius,  came  t<>  t!ie  tribune-ship  ten 
}ears  afterwards.  With  a  desire  of  revenge, 


FOREIGN  CONQUESTS.          193 

Cains  Gracchus  and  Livius  Drusus— Death  of  Caius. 

he  omitted  no  opportunity  to  gain  the  favor  of 
tlie  plebeians,  as  well  as  to  arou-e  them  against 
the  patrician-.  Many  of  liis  brother's  enemies 
.  through  his  instrumentality,  expelled 
from  the  city;  and  the  execution  of  the  hateful 
law  was  earnestly  attempted.  Such  was  his 
Biicce>s  in  operating  upon  the  people,  that  he 
Tribune  for  a  second  year.  I  Jut 
tlu*  Senate  l'»und  the  means  of  withdrawing  the 
favor  of  tin-  people  from  Caius.  Their  in>tru- 
ment  was  hi-  oo]  Drusus,  who, 

by  means  of  making  still  greater  promises  to 
them  than  were  made  by  Caius,  succeeded  in 
winning  their  approbation.  When,  therefore, 
a  third  election  for  Tribunes  took  place,  Caius 
was  d  .  and  Opimius,  one  of  his-  bitterest 

enemies,  was  chosen  to  the  c<>n>ulate. 

Soon  after  his  elevation  to  office,  Opimius 
sought  to  repeal  the  laws  made  by  Caius:  in 
consequence  of  which  a  great  tumult  arose  in 
the  city.  Thousands  of  people  armed  them- 
-  upon  different  sides;  and  the  streets  of 
Rome  once  more  flowed  with  the  blood  of  its 
citizens.  No  less  than  three  thousand  were 
slain.  The  head  of  Caius  was  cut  off,  and  car- 
ried about  upon  the  end  of  a  spear;  and  his 
body,  like  that  of  his  brother  Tiberius,  was 
thrown  into  the  river  Tiber. 

13 


THE  JUGURTHINE  WAR. 

FROM    120   TO    102   B.  C. 


EARLY  Education  of  Jugurtha — He  forms  Plans  to  obtain 
the  Throne  of  Xumidia — Is  adopted  by  the  King,  his  I'nelo 
— Death  of  Hinnpsal,  his  adopted  Brother — Civil  War  in 
Numi'lia — Commissioners  sent  thither  from  Rome— Ju.umr- 
tha's  manner  of  satisfying  lln-in — Civil  "War  continued — His 
:td"pt»-.l  brother,  Adherbal,  appeals  to  Rome — Murder  of 
Adlicrbal — Koine  makes  War  against  .Juirurthu — The  Roman 
:il  bribed  by  him — Indignation  of  the  People — Jugur- 
tha goes  to  lioim  —  Aiu.th.-r  Rinnan  Army  -1  him 
—  It-  1  >••!". •a-1,  —  Partial  Defeat  of  Jugurtha—  Cains  Mar: 
eomes  Consul  and  takes  command  in  Nmnidia — Final  Over- 
throw of  .Tugurtha — His  Delivery  to  Sylla — His  Death. 


vi  i  r. 

THE  JIGTUTHIXE  WAR. 


THK  l*>ss  of  the  Gracchi  was  very  deeply  t'elt 
hv  the  people  of  Rome;  and  an  affair  of  less 
moment  than  that  of  Jugurtha,  would  liave 
scarcely  brought  them  out  nt'the  dejection  and 
c  Mi-tcrnatiuii  into  which  this  loss  had  thrown 
them. 

During  the  war  against  the  Carthaginians, 
the  Roman  general,  Scipio,  had  formed  a  friend- 
ship with  Masinis-a,  a  famous  African  prince. 
This  prince  rendered  him  such  valuable  servi- 
ces in  his  campaigns,  that  the  Romans  bestowed 
upon  him  the  kingdom  of  Numidia,  which  at 
his  death  he  left  to  Micipsa,  who  succeeded 
him.  Hicipsa  had  two  sons,  the  elder  named 
Adherhal  and  the  younger  lliempsal.  Resides 
these,  he  had  a  nephew  named  Jiigurtha,  who 
being  a  promising  youth,  and  without  protect- 
ors, was  taken  into  the  family  of  Micipsa,  and 


198  KK PUB LIC   OF  ROME. 

Early  Education  of  Jugurtha. 

educated  with  his  sons,  although  he  was  con- 
siderably older  than  they. 

Nothing  could  be  more  satisfactory  to  a  pa- 
rent or  guardian  than  were  the  early  conduct 
and  progress  of  Jugurtha.  His  masters  all 
praised  him  for  his  diligence,  and  prophesied 
that  he  would  be  a  prodigy  of  learning.  In 
drawing  the  bow,  managing  a  horse,  and  in  all 
kinds  of  athletic  exercises,  he  was  surpassed  by 
no  one;  and  it  is  said  that  his  boldness  in  the 
chase  was  only  equalled  by  the  modesty  with 
which  lie  received  the  praises  bestowed  upon 
his  difficult  achievements. 

Young  .luirurtha  soon  became  one  of  the  or- 
naiiKMits  of  the  court  of  Numidia;  and  the 
king,  his  uncle,  looked  upon  him  with  pride 
and  pleasure.  Uut  as  the  young  prince  grew 
older,  it  became  very  evident  that  he  ] 
an  inordinate  ambition,  guided  by  an  artful, 
insinuating,  dextrous,  and  deceitful  irenius.  The 
discovery  of  this  filled  the  king  with  anxiety, 
for  he,  himself,  was  now  becoming  old,  and  his 
two  sons  were  not  of  sufficient  age  or  ability  to 
oppose  artifice,  such  as  he  began  to  fear  that 
Jugurtha  might  use  against  them.  It  seemed 
plain  enough,  that  he  had  nourished  in  his 
bosom  a  viper  that  would  eventually  turn  and 
sting  him. 


J  I"  (i  I    K  1  1!  1  .\  K      \V  AR.  199 

His  success  In  War— S-x-ures  Friends. 

The  love  which  he  bore  to  his  own  oll'spring 
prompted  him,  at  once,  to  get  rid  of  Jugurtha ; 
and  the  least  objectionable  manner  of  accom- 
plishing this  seemed  to  he,  by  sending  the  am- 
bitious youth  to  the  war.  IK-  placed  him,  ac- 
cordingly, at  the  head  of  a  body  of  troops  which 
he  otl'eivd  to  Scipio  .Kmilianus,  who  was  then 

jing  Numantia,  in  Spain.  Jugurtha  was 
not,  however,  destined  to  he  slain  in  war.  and 
lu-  entered  it  as  if  he  felt  the  a»urance  that  this 

NX  His  Mirprising  acts  of  valor  won  for 
him  universal  admiration;  and  he  made  him- 
self especially  pleasing  to  his  own  officers  and 
soldiers  hv  his  winning  manners,  and  his  con- 
tinual favors  and  pre-ents.  Not  forgetting  the 
importance  of  securing  the  principal  men  under 
his  command,  he  omitted  nothing  which  could 
bind  them  to  his  interests.  And  even  before 
the  conclusion  of  the  campaign  they  intimated 
to  him  that  he  would  have  little  difficulty  in 
placing  himself  upon  the  throne  of  Numidia. 

Returning  to  his  own  country  covered  with 
the  glory  which  he  had  acquired  in  the  arrny, 
and  also  hearing  a  letter  from  the  Roman  gen- 
eral, in  which  his  valor  and  his  services  were 
commended  in  the  highest  terms,  he  could  not 
fail  to  lay  a  good  Inundation  fnr  his  plans. 
Friendfl  ilocked  to  him  fj-om  every  quarter, 


200  H  K  P  I  B  L  i  C     O  F     It  O  .\L  K  . 

His  adoption  by  the  King— His  Plans. 

even  from  among  the  ministers  of  the  kingdom  ; 
and  those  who  did  not  come  voluntarily,  he 
managed  to  gain  by  promises  and  presents. 
Without  a  great  deal  of  difficulty,  he  contrived 
to  have  it  intimated  to  the  old  king  that  he 
could  not  do  a  wiser  thing  than  to  adopt  him 
a>  his  son,  in  order  to  give  hi>  younger  children 
a  guardian,  and  the  State  a  protector.  The 
king,  ready  to  drop  into  his  grave,  listened  to 
the  hint,  and  in  hopes  that  Jugurtha  would  at 
least  be  grateful,  adopted  him  in  a  public  man- 
ner, beseeching  him  earnestly,  at  the  same  time, 
to  have  a  tender  regard  for  the  interests  of  his 
younger  brothers. 

Hut  the  projects  of  .higurthu  did  not  admit 
of  any  display  of  gratitude;  and  every  thing 
like  a  tender  regard  f«»r  his  younger  brothers 
would  have  been  equally  injurious  to  them. 
The  death  of  the  old  king  was  only  a  signal  for 
the  execution  ,.f  these  plans  and  the  event, 
showed  how  admirably  they  had  all  been  laid, 
^sumidia  wa<  divided  into  three  equal  prin- 
cipalities, at  the  head  of  which  were  three 
sovereigns,  possessing  equal  power,  and  all 
under  the  protection  of  the  Romans.  To  be 
the  sole  master  of  Numidia  was  the  aim  of 
Jugurtha,  and  it  was  no  great  trial  of  his  e<»n- 
Bcience  to  rid  himself  of  the  two  young  princes, 


WAR.  201 


Death  of  Hiempsal—  Ci?il  War. 


his  adopted  brothers.  ]>y  the  aid  of  as>assins, 
whom  it  was  easy  enough  for  him  to  hire,  he 
caused  the  younger  to  be  stabbed  at  night, 
while  keeping  in  his  bed. 

Adherbal,  the  elder  brother,  terrified  by  such 
a  wicked  act,  fled  to  that  portion  of  the  king- 
dom over  which  he  had  been  appointed  ruler  ; 
and  immediately  proceeded  to  raise  troops  to 
defend  himself  against  the  designs.  of  his  brutal 
kinsman.  The  whole  nation  now  became  di- 
vided, some  declaring  themselves  in  favor  of 
one  prince,  and  some  in  favor  of  the  other.  A 
bloody  civil  war  ensued,  during  which  many 
of  the  towns  of  Xumidia  were  destroyed,  and 
thousands  of  its  inhabitants  were  put  to  the 
sword.  Success  generally  attended  the  arms  of 
»Jugurtha,  and  Adherbal  linally  Mitfej-inga  com- 
plete defeat,  was  obliged  to  fly  for  safety  in 
disguise.  Wandering  tor  some  time  about  his 
native  land,  lie  managed,  at  last,  to  make  his 
e-rape  to  Koine. 

The  arrival  here  of  a  young  prince,  thus  per- 
secuted and  driven  from  his  country  by  an  am- 
bitious and  blood-thirsty  brother,  could  not  fail 
to  arouse  the  indignation  of  the  Roman  people. 
The  whole  city  was  thrown  into  excitement, 
and  every  one  declared  that  nothing  less  could 
be  done  than  to  send  an  army  into  Africa  to 


I »  K  I '  I    B L I C     OF     1 1  <  >  M  K  . 


Interference  of  Borne-  t  into  NumMia. 

punish  the  ba-e  Jugurtha.  But  the  base,  ami, 
at  the  same  time,  cunning  Jugurtha.  sent  am- 
ba-sador-  to  Koine  to  justify  his  barbarous  con- 
duct. And  these  ambassadors  being  loaded 
with  immense  nuns  of  money,  found  it  no  very 
difficult  task  to  convince  the  Senate  and  gran- 
deefi  <>t'  limue  that  he  was  not,  after  all,  sii-h 
an  abominable  Avivtch  as,  at  first  sight,  he 
might  a]»]M-ar.  Thi-  nutcries  of  the  people  were 
hushed,  and  ten  comini»ioiiers  were  sent  into 
>Jumidia  to  i-llect  a  reconciliation  between  Ju- 
gurtha  and  Adherbal. 

The-e  commi^inTii-i-s,  on  their  arrival,  {bund 
Jugurtha  to  be  one  of  the  mo>t  ho>pitable  and 
gi-nerous  of  mortal.      He   provided  them  with 
every  thing  that  they  could  wi-h,  and  neg!« 
not  to  bestow   upon    them   gold   and    -ilver  to 
their  heart'-  content.     In  turn  they  pn»n«»u' 
him  an  excellent  and  much  abused  man;  and 
in  -ettling  the  ditliculty  between  him  and  Ad- 
herbal,    contrived   to   give    him   the 
cities  and  richest  province-,  a-  a  token  of  their 
great  regard   for  the  untold  wealth  which  he 
evidently  [K>fi868B6<L 

Having  rid  himself  of  these  conmii 
Jugurtha  began,  at  once,  to  prosecute  his  de- 
signs against  Adherbal.     In  order,  however,  to 
have  some  little  show  of  justice  on  his  side,  he 


J  i  «;  i  in  11  i  N  K    YY  .\  u.  203 

The  War  continued— The  Gold  of  Jugurtha. 

tried  to  provoke  him  to  resentment,  by  com- 
mitting small  depredations  upon  his  frontiers. 
Uut  Adherbal  took  no  notice  of  these  tilings, 
and  Jugurtha  finally  entered  bis  dominions  at 
the  head  ot'  a  large  army,  and  made  himself 
master  of  most  of  his  cities  and  provinces. 
There  was  now  no  other  course  for  Adherbal — 
he  must  either  fight  or  deliver  himself  up  to 
his  Uood-thirsty  enemy;  and,  accordingly,  lie 
levied  a  great  army,  at  the  head  of  which  he 
undertook  to  drive  .Jugurtha  from  his  kingdom. 
J.ut  Jugurtha,  vastly  his  superior  in  the  art  of 
war,  attacked  him  upon  all  sides,  de-troyed  his 
troops,  and  endeavored  to  take  possession  of 
his  person.  Adherbal,  however,  made  good 
-••ape-  to  Cirta,  the  capital  of  his  dominions. 
To  Cirta,  also,  Jugnrtha  hastened,  determined 
upon  Adherbal's  death,  lie  besieged  the  town; 
he  used  every  effort  to  obtain  an  entrance,  and 
even  swore  that  he  would  not  leave  its  walls 
until  his  enemy  was  within  his  grasp.  So  des- 
perate, at  last,  became  the  position  of  the  poor 
persecuted  prince,  that  he  was  obliged  to  dis- 
patch messengers  to  Rome,  to  beg  the  people 
there  to  interfere  and  save  his  life.  To  Rome, 
however,  Jugurtha  had  also  hastened  messen- 
gers, in  the  form  of  bags  of  gold ;  and  these, 
placed  in  the  hands  of  his  emissaries  there, 


REPUBLIC    OF    ROMP:. 


Adherbal's  difficulty  in  obtaining  Aid  from  Rome. 


contended  with  great  effect  against  the  me»en- 
gers  of  Adherbal.  The  Romans  scarcely  knew 
which  to  choose,  but  finally  the  gold  prevailed, 

and  they  contented  themselves  with  sending 
three  commissioners  into  Africa,  who  were  in- 
structed to  make  peace,  if  possible,  between 
the  t\v<>  Numidiao  princes. 

I  Jut  Jugnrtha's  gold  succeeded  in  sending 
back  these  commissioners,  soon  after  their  ar- 
rival ;  and  his  gold,  also,  prompted  them  to  re- 
port in  Roine  that  the  affairs  of  Numidia  were 
ne\er  in  a  more  prosperous  condition.  Mean- 
while, Adherbal,  driven  to  extremity,  wrote  a 
long  account  of  his  condition  to  the  Roman  Sen- 
ate, informing  them  how  .Jugurtha  had  bribed 
their  commissioners,  and  imploring  them,  in 
the  name  of  Ma>ini.^sa,  his  grandfather,  to  save 
at  least,  his  life.  fc>  Dispo-e.  a-  \..u  plea>e.  of 
tlu-  kingdom  of  Numidia,  but  Miffer  me  not  to 
fall  in  the  hands  .if  a  tyrant,  and  of  the  mur- 
derer of  my  family."  said  he. 

There  were  some  honest  men  in  the  Senate, 
who  had  not  been  corrupted  by  the  gold  ot 
Jugurtha,  and  who  were  of  opinion  that  an 
army  should  be  sent  immediately  into  Africa 
to  raise  the  siege  of  Cirta,  and  to  punish  this 
wicked  man.  But  the  number  of  these  honest 
men  was  not  great  enough  to  prevail ;  and 


J  r  <T  r  H  T  n  i  x  K    W  A  R.  205 

Adberbal's  murder— An  Army  sent  Into  Numidia. 

nothing  more  was  done  than  to  send  commis- 
sioners again  into  Xumidia.  Like  those  who 
had  been  sent  before,  they  were  easily  seduced 
by  the  cunning  Jugnrtha,  who  bribed  them  to 
believe  that  his  brother,  Adherbal,  had  at- 
tempted to  destroy  him,  and  that  it  was  only 
in  suit-defence  that  he  had  taken  up  arms  again>t 
him. 

With  this  report  the  commissioners  returned 
to  Rome;  and  Jugurtha,  once  more  allowed  to 
continue  his  persecution  of  Adherbal,  pushed 
the  siege  of  Cirta  with  so  much  vigor,  that  it 
wa-  obliged  to  yield,  and  Adherbal  fell  into 
his  hands.  The  poor  prince  demanded  no  other 
conditions  but  the  preservation  of  his  life,  which 
Jugurtha  promised  him  in  the  most  solemn 
terms;  but  no  sooner  had  he  entered  the  city, 
than  he  slaughtered  all  the  Numidians,  and  put 
Adherbal  to  death  by  the  most  cruel  tortures. 

The  news  of  such  an  outrage  could  not  be 
circulated  in  Rome  without  exciting  universal 
indignation.  Those  Senators  who  had  suffered 
themselves  to  be  bribed  by  the  infamous  Ju- 
gurtha, beginning  to  fear  now  that  they  might 
be  accused  as  accessories  to  his  crime,  consent- 
ed to  have  an  army  sent  into  Africa  to  punish 
him  as  he  deserved.  The  commaud  of  this 
army  was  given  to  L.  Hestia  Calpuniiu^  a  man 


206  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

War  made  upon  Jugurtha. 

of  sordid  avarice,  and  t«>  whom  war  was  merely 
a  trade,  by  which  to  fill  his  cotters  with  gold. 
At  his  own  solicitation  he  was  furnished  witli 
officers  whom  lie  knew  to  be  no  better  than 
him-elf;  and  by  whose  assistance,  doub1 
lie  Imped  to  reap  a  golden  harvest. 

Before,  however,  the  army  was  ready  to  set 
out  from  Home,  Jugurtha,  informed  of  what 
A\a<  going  on,  sent  thither  an  embassy  plenti- 
fully provided  with  money.  JJut  he  was  mi>- 
taken  upon  this  occasion.  It  was  impossihle 
for  the  Senah-  to  sutler  hi-  ojlciicr-  to  go  any 
longer  unpunished.  His  aniba^adoix  wen-  or- 
deivd  to  depart  without  even  entering  the  city, 
unless  they  would  consent  to  give  up  the  king- 
dom of  Numidia,  as  well  as  the  person  of  ,Iu- 
gurtha  himself,  rnwilling  to  comply  with 
such  a  demjUld,  they  accordingly  retired;  and 
Calpiirnius.  embarking  with  his  troops  at  Rhe- 
gium.  entered  the  dominions  of  .lugurlha.  and 
,11  a  vigorous  war.  The  course  of  his  army 
Wai  ever\whei\' 'marked  by  the  most  dread- 
ful deva>tation.  Jle  formed  sieges,  pi undered 
cities,  and  made  prisoners.  The  terrified  in- 
habitants iled  in  all  directions  at  the  simple 
mention  of  his  name,  and  rlugurtha  himself  be- 
gan linally  to  fear  that  his  empire  was  at  au 
end.  Uut  what  could  he  do  ?  His  armies  were 


J  IT,  T  KTIl  I  N  K      \V  AH.  207 

Tbe  !  ral  bnbed  by  Jugurtba. 

iiisuflicicnt  to  cope  with  the  veteran  troops  of 
Koine,  and  he  had  no  allies  strong  enough  to 
enable   him   to  make  a  determined  resistance 
inst  his  invaders. 

Jugnrtha  knew  well  enough  what  to  do. 
Hitherto  the  Romans  had  not  been  \ 

-t  the  power  of  his  gold,  and  his  cullers 
Mill  amply  provided  with  it.  Coniident 
that  in  this  way  he  could  drive  them  from  his 
country,  he  sent  emissaries  to  Calpurnins,  with 
oilers  <»!'  la  rife  sums  of  money,  it'  lie  would  leave 
him  alone  in  peftoa  Calpurnius  was  pure! 
ea-ily  ;  and,  in  urder  to  deceive  the  Roman 
Seiiatt-,  ]»reii'iMh-d  that  the  Tsumidian  king  had 
delivered  up  to  him  his  towns,  his  horses,  his 
elephants,  and  everything  that  he  possessed; 
and  lor  a  time  this  wa<  apparently  the  Oftta 
Hut  so  s<>. >n  as  the  IJoman  army  had  left  Nn- 
midia.  .hignrtha  entered  again  into  possession 
of  all  his  dominions,  and  even  pureha-ed  of  the 
( 'alpurniiis  the  horses  and  elephants  which 
should  have  been  retained  for  the  >ervice  of 
Rome. 

It  was  not  very  long  before  the  Roman  peo- 
ple began  to  suspect  that  the  treaty  made  be- 
fcpeen  Calpurnius  and  Jugnrtha  was  a  perfect 
sham;  and  when,  at  length,  their  Mi-picions 
were  confirmed,  the  greatest  indignation  was 


REPUBLIC  OP 


Indignation  of  the  People — Jugurtha  sent  for. 


manifested  against  the  Senate.  The  Tribunes 
of  the  People  complained  in  the  bitterest  terms. 
They  declared,  in  the  public  assemblies,  that 
there  was  no  justice  left  among  them — that 
money  was  the  tyrant  of  Rome,  and  that  the 
grandees  and  nobles  had  no  other  deities. 
"They  tell  us,"  said  one  of  them,  "that  the 
Xumidian  has  yielded  himself  up  to  the  Re- 
public— that  he  has  delivered  up  his  p!; 
his  troops,  and  his  elephants.  Convince  us  of 
the  truth  of  this  assertion  ;  make  Jugurtha 
come  to  R«»me.  It'  it  l»e  true  that  he  has  sub- 
mitu-d.  lu-  will  obey  your  orders;  if  not.  y.-u 
may  easily  judge  that  what  they  call  a  tivaiy 
is  nothing  but  ft  COllnaioO  between  that  crafty 
prince  and  our  generals — a  treaty  that  has  pro- 
duced nothing  but  impunity  of  his  crim 
him.  scandalous  riches  to  tho>e  who  weiv  in- 
trusted with  the  Senate's  commission,  and  an 
eternal  dishonor  to  the  Republic." 

It  was  impossible  to  prevent  the  people  from 
sending  for  Jugurtha,  and  the  praetor  Cas-ius 
was  consequently  di-patched  to  bring  him  to 
Koine.  A  less  artful  man  would  have  proba- 
bly resisted  any  such  proceeding,  but  Jugurtha, 
still  counting  upon  the  power  of  his  gold,  con- 
sented to  go,  on  receiving  the  public  faith  as 
his  safeguard.  On  reaching  Rome,  he  gained 


J  re  i  in  H  i  N  K    \V  A  R.  209 

More  Corruption— Jngurtha  Sc-nt  Home. 

at  once  the  Tribune  Boehius,  who  managed  to 
protect  him,  but  not  without  exposing  himself 
tu  the  charge  of  corruption.  Indeed,  the  peo- 
ple became  so  provoked  at  this  fresh  instance 
of  collusion,  that  they  threatened  to  seize  Ju- 
gurtha,  and  give  his  crown  to  another  grandson 
of  Ma>inis~a,  who,  upon  the  death  of  Adherbal, 
had  taken  refuge  in  Rome.  Jugurtha,  how- 
ever, put  an  end  to  such  a  plan  as  this  by 
causing  the  assassination  of  his  rival.  But  the 
murderer  being  taken,  confessed  that  he  had 
been  employed  by  Jugurtha  to  commit  the 
deed,  whereupon  this  infamous  wretch  was 
cumn landed  by  the  Senate  to  depart  at  once 
from  Koine.  Passing  through  the  gate  of  the 
city,  it  is  said  that  he  looked  back  and  ex- 
claimed: "O  mercenary  town!  thou  wouhUt 
quickly  be  enslaved,  if  a  merchant  were  found 
but  rich  enough  to  buy  thee !" 

Although  the  Romans  were  bound  by  their 
promise  to  suffer  Jugurtha  to  return  to  his  do- 
minions, yet  they  were  determined  to  bring 
him  back  to  Rome,  and  punish  him  for  his  ini- 
quity. The  voice  of  the  people  was  now  raised 
against  him,  and  it  was  publicly  declared  that 
he  should  never  escape  again.  A  large  army, 
under  the  command  of  the  consul  Albinus,  was 
accordingly  sent  into  Numidia,  with  orders  to 
u 


210  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Defeat  of  another  Army  sent  against  Jngurtha. 

make  a  vigorous  war  upon  him,  unless  he  de- 
livered his  person  and  kingdom  up  to  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Roman  people.  But  Jugurtlia 
found  means  to  perplex  and  delay  Albinus,  to 
such  a  degree,  that  he  actually  accomplished 
nothing  during  the  time  that  he  remained  in 
Africa ;  and  the  season  for  holding  the  election 
in  Rome  having  arrived,  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
pair thither,  and  leave  his  army  under  the  di- 
rection of  his  lieutenant,  Aulus.  This  man 
possessed  neither  valor  nor  military  knowl- 
edge ;  and  the  crafty  Numidian  succeeded, 
without  much  difficulty,  in  drawing  so  poor  a 
general  into  difficulty.  Aulus  was  led,  through 
his  artifices,  to  conduct  his  army  into  narrow 
it,  whose  avenues  had  been  previously 
secured,  and  then  lie  was  completely  cut  to 
pieces:  life  and  liberty  being  Driven  to  those, 
who  escaped  the  sword,  only  on  condition  that 
they  should  pass  under  the  yoke — an  ignomini- 
ous ceremony,  by  which  the  conquerors  affixed 
an  eternal  shame  to  the  defeat  of  the  van- 
quished. Besides  this,  J'ugurtha  compelled 
Aulus  and  his  principal  officers  to  promise  that 
the  Romans  should  never  again  disturb  him  in 
the  possession  of  the  kingdom  of  Xumidia. 

As  soon  as  the  Senate  heard  of  this  shameful 
treats,   tlu-v    declared   it   void:    and  recalling 


JUGURTHINE    WAR.  211 

Another  Army  sent— Jugurtha  defeated. 

Aulus,  intrusted  Metellus,  the  consul  elect, 
with  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  The  new 
general,  having  collected  a  large  supply  of 
provisions  and  ammunition,  set  out  for  Numid- 
ia,  accompanied  by  Caius  Marius,  whom  the 
people  had  chosen  as  his  lieutenant.  On  arri- 
ving in  Africa,  Metellus  received  from  Aulus 
the  command  of  the  Roman  army,  and  maivh- 
ing  at  once  against  Jugurtha,  he  drove  him  to 
the  very  extremity  of  his  dominions.  Jugurtha 
was  stripped  of  all  his  troops,  and  completely 
shut  out  of  all  his  fortified  towns.  Nothing 
seemed  left  for  him  to  do  but  to  submit  to 
whatever  terms  the  Roman  general  should 
think  fit  to  dictate  to  him,  and  he  agreed  ac- 
cordingly to  pay  to  Metellus  two  hundred  thou- 
sand pounds  weight  of  silver ;  to  deliver  up  all 
his  elephants  and  a  certain  quantity  of  arms 
and  horsed;  and  to  yield  up  all  who  had  de- 
serted to  his  ranks.  To  these  hard  conditions 
Jugurtha  rendered  a  ready  obedience;  but 
when  Metellus  ordered  him  to  repair,  himself, 
to  Tisidium  for  further  directions,  he  began  to 
hesitate,  and  spent  several  days  without  com- 
ing to  any  resolution.  The  fear  of  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  Romans,  who  would  doubtless 
punish  him  for  all  his  crimes,  finally  prevailed ; 
and  he  determined  that  he  would  not  surrender 


212  KEPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Trouble  in  the  Roman  Army. 

as  long  as  he  could  find  a  single  soldier  to  help 
him  fight.  Accordingly  he  broke  off  all  nego- 
tiations; gathered  together  new  troops;  forti- 
fied some  small  places  that  were  still  in  his 
possession,  and  bid  the  Romans  to  take  him  if 
they  could. 

In  the  mean  time  trouble  arose  in  the  Ro- 
man camp.  Gains  Marius,  the  lieutenant  of 
Metellus,  and  a  very  ambitious  man,  aspired 
to  the  supreme  command.  The  1  tetter  to  attain 
the  object  of  his  wishes,  he  caused  a  report  to 
be  carried  to  Rome,  that  Metellus  was  prolong- 
ing the  war  in  Africa,  in  order  to  continue  him- 
self in  ]>o\\er;  and  contrived  also  to  have  it 
circulated,  that,  if  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  ar- 
my, a  single  campaign  alone  would  be  sufficient 
to  bring  Jug  ml  ha,  dead  or  alive,  to  Rome. 

J lit heiio  the  consulship  had  never  been  filled 
pt  by  a  patrician,  and  Marius  belonging 
to  the  order  of  the  plebeians,  it  seemed  a  very 
bold  thing  for  him  to  aspire  to  this  office,  lie 
found,  however,  friends  enough  in  Rome  to  la- 
bor in  his  interest.  A  short  time  previous, 
then,  to  the  election,  word  was  sent  to  him  in 
Africa,  that  tin-re  was  little  doubt  of  his  receiv- 
ing the  majority  of  the  votes.  As  it  was  ne- 
HT  fur  him  to  be  in  Rome  at  the  time  of 
<he  election,  he  asked  his  discharge  of  Metel- 


JUGURTHINE    WAR.  213 


M.-irius  made  Consul. 


lus,  and  received  it,  though  not  without  a  sharp 
rebuke  for  making  gach  high  pretensions.  AVith- 

out  appearing  to  be  offended,  he  took  his  de- 
parture, and,  notwithstanding  the  obstacles 
thrown  in  his  way  by  the  nobility,  wa>,  in  due 
n.  made  consul  and  commander  of  the  ar- 
mies of  Rome. 

TliN  was  a  great  triumph  for  the  common 
people;  and  Marius  himself  boasted  in  pivs- 
of  the  patricians,  that  the  dignity  he  had 
obtained  was  a  victory  which  the  people  had 
gained  over  the  great,  by  means  of  his  coin-age 
and  valor.  "By  taking  the  command  of  the 
army  out  of  the  hands  of  the  great,"  said  he  in 
a  public  assembly,  "yon  have  removed  the 
chief  obstacle  that  lay  in  the  way  of  victory. 
It  has  been  nothing  but  their  ignorance  in  the 
military  art,  their  presumption,  and  especially 
their  scandalous  avarice,  that  have  drawn  out 
the  war  to  such  a  length  already." 

"With  as  little  delay  as  possible,  Marius  pro- 
ceeded to  raise  new  troops  for  the  war  in  Afri- 
ca. Arriving  in  Xumidia,  he  marched  with 
the  forces  that  accompanied  him,  to  join  those 
under  Metellus.  This  great  general,  deeply 
mortified  at  being  superseded  by  his  late  lieu- 
tenant, appointed  one  of  his  officers  to  deliver 
over  his  army  to  Marius,  and  then  set  out  at 


214  .REPUBLIC  OF  KOME. 

Marias  takes  the  Command  in  Numidia. 

once  for  Rome.  A  strong  body  of  cavalry,  un- 
der the  command  of  Cornelius  Sylla,  soon  after 
arrived  in  Africa ;  and  these,  joining  the  forces 
under  Marine,  formed  a  large  and  powerful 
army. 

Previous  to  the  arrival  of  Marius  in  Rome, 
Jugurtha  had  succeeded  in  securing  the  pro- 
tection and  aid  of  a  neighboring  king,  named 
Bocchus.  Their  united  army  presented  a  very 
formidable  appearance,  but  Marius  determined 
to  attack  them  without  delay.  Taking, first, the 
great  and  populous  city  of  Capsa,  he  began  to 
form  plans  for  destroying  the  army  of  Jugur- 
tha; but  while  thus  engaged,  the  two  kings 
marched  privately  upon  him,  and  throwing  the 
Rum  an  troops  into  the  greatest  consternation, 
slaughtered  them  by  hundreds.  Indeed  they 
would  have  gained  a  complete  victory,  had 
they  known  and  improved  the  advantage  which 
they,  upon  this  occu-i'»n,  acquired. 

Recovering  from  his  surprise,  and  rendered 
by  this  misfortune  much  more  cautious.  .Marius 
collected  his  troops  and  once  more  made  an  ef- 
fort to  meet  and  punish  his  crafty  foe.  Two 
decisive  battles  were  soon  after  fought,  and  the 
two  kings  were  sadly  beaten  in  both.  Bocchus 
became  convinced  that  he  had  committed  a 
great  error  in  allying  himself  with  Jugurtba 


.}  C  (i  C  KT  H  I  X  K      \V  A  R. 


Bocchus  sends  Ambassadors  to  Rome. 


against  the  Roman  nation.  Hoping,  however, 
that  he  might  vet  save  his  crown,  he  sent  am- 
bassadors to  Rome,  with  instructions  to  signify 
to  the  Senate  his  regret  at  having  engaged  in 
the  service  of  Jugurtha. 

These  ambassadors  were  received  with  great 
respect  at  Rome  ;  but  in  reply  to  their  solicita- 
tions they  were  answered  in  these  w«  >rds  :  "  The 
Senate  and  Roman  people  are  not  used  to  for- 
get either  services  or  injuries  ;  however,  since 
Bocchus  repents  of  his  fault  they  grant  him 
their  pardon.  As  to  peace  and  alliance,  he 
shall  obtain  them  when  he  has  deserved  thejn 
by  his  actions." 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?"  said  Bocchus,  in 
reply  to  these  words,  as  they  were  delivered  to 
him  by  the  ambassador.  "What  would  the 
Senate  desire  when  they  tell  me,  that  I  shall 
have  peace  and  alliance  after  I  have  deserved 
them  by  my  actions  ?  Go  to  the  camp  of  Ha- 
rms, and  bid  him  to  send  his  qutestor  hither." 

The  quaestor,  Sylla,  was  accordingly  sent  to 
the  troubled  king.  "  You  have  no  other  way," 
said  Sylla  to  him,  "  of  obtaining  peace  and  al- 
liance, but  by  delivering  Jugurtha  to  us  ;  and 
thus  you  will  make  amends  for  the  imprudence 
of  your  first  engagement." 

The  proposal  was  not  at  all  agreeable  to 


210  REITHMC   OF    HOM  K. 

Boocbus  delivers  Jugurtha  to  Sylla. 

•lnis,  who  could  ni-.t   In-ill*  to  be  guilt 
such  apiece  of  treachery,    lie  would  not  . 
to  it;  and  their  interview   ended.      l>ut  Sylla 
came  t«»  see  him  again  and  again,  and   each 
time  being  more  preying,  and  more  eloquent, 

•;ui-  finally  confuted  to  yield  up  .Jugurtha. 
Tin-  wretched  jirince  was  seized,  loaded  with 
chain-,  and  given  ii]>  to  Sylla,  who  placed  him 
in  the  hand-  of  MarillS. 

M«  Mengers  -re  at  once  di>j»atched  to  Rome 
to  bear  the  joyful  tiding,  and,  soon  after,  the 
eoii«jueror  of  Numidia  followed  with  his  vic- 
tori.aia  army.  Th€  -att-s  of  the  city  were 
wide  open  fur  his  triumphal  entry,  and 
tha,  eo\ei-ed  with  chains,  was  dragged  like  a 
slave  at  the-  wheels  of  the  chariot  of  Murius. 
In  order  to  prevent  1;:  was  taken  at 

to  pri-Mit.  where  he  was  condemned  to  he 
starved  to  death.  l\\>  royal  n-be  was  taken  otl 
by  tin-  executioner,  as  well  as  all  the  clothes 
which  covered  him,  and  then  the  mi-craMe 

eh  was  rudely  .pushed  into  the  dungeon, 
destined  to  be  his  tomb.  u  ( )h,  Hercules,  how 
cold  are  thy  siove- !"  he  exclaimed,  as  the 
damp  air  struck  upon  hi-  naked  body;  and 
thus,  after  >tnii:^lin«j  with  hunger  for  -i.\  days, 
died  a  kin«j  who,  to  gratify  his  ambition,  did 
not  he-ita'e  to  commit  the  blackest  cr; 


MARIUS  AND  SYLLA 

FROM   102  TO   86   B.  0. 


defeats  the  Barbarians — Marius  in  disfavor — He 
goes  to  Asia — Assassination  of  Drusus — War  of  th< 
federates — Sylla  sent  against  Mithridates — Contention  be- 
t  \ve.-n  Marius  and  Sylla — Sylla  inarches  against  his  rn.-mirs 
at  K.-III.-  -ICtfiol  :t:.d  Sulj-itius  driven  from  the  cit\ — They 
an-  pro- -rilied — Sulj»itius  slain — Cinna  made  Consul — He 
oj'|ii'U8  the  measures  of  Sylla — Stratagem  of  Cinna — His 
<lrh-.it  —  l>c|triv.-il  ,.l'  his  (.lli,'.- — ( 'miij'laiii^  t<;  tli«-  army — 
Tin-  flight  of  Mariu> — I1U  i-onJ.-iinnition—  !r<mi 

(1-ath  -11«>  goes  to  Africa — His  arrival  at  Carthaire — 11«-  is 
invited   to  join    Cinna — Tlu-y   \\r  .   made 

.1 — Brutal  conduct  of  M;irius — Death  of  Marius. 


r.MTTRE   OF    CAIU8   MA  HITS. 


IX. 

MARIUS  AND  SYLLA 


Tin:  rejoicings  in  Home  on  account  of  the 
tt    and    capture  of  Juirurtlia.    were    very 
much  marred   by  the  disputes   between  the  pa- 
;ind   plebeians,  as  to  who  was  entitled 
to  most  honor  for  this  acliicveinent.     The  ple- 
1  that  the  successful  termina- 
tion  <>t'  the   war   was  due  to  Marine  the 
consul  clio-rii  from  tlieir  numl)er  ;  and  the   pa- 
trician- c  d  that  Marius  miirht  vet  have 
been  in  Africa,  if  Sylla,  a  patrician,   had   not 
contrived  to  «rt.t  p.^e— ion  of  the  pei-son  of  Ju- 
irnrtha.                  '  jealousy  at  once  sprang  up 
betw<                 t\vo  di-tin<ruishcd  soldiers,  which 
resulted  in  a  good  deal  of  trouble  and  blood- 
shed. 

These  contentions,  however,  gave  place,  for  a 
while,  to  a  general  alarm  created  by  the  threat- 
invasion  of  a  great  multitude  of  barbari- 


K  K  1M  •  H  L  f  C     OF     K  O  M  E  . 


Marius  defeats  the  Barbarians. 


ans,  known  by  the  name  of  Teutones  and  Cini- 
bri,  is-uin^  from  Chersonesus  Cimbrica,  now 
called  Jutland.  These  barbarians,  numbering 
more  tlian  three  hundred  thousand,  had  already 
overrun  (iaul,  and  were  making  preparations 
to  pass  into  Italy.  The  fear  of  such  immense 
numbers  of  people,  remarkable  for  their  iierce- 
ness,  smothered,  of  course,  every  tiling  lik-- 
cord  amonir  the  citi/en-  «.f  Ilmne.  The  com- 
m-.n  >afrty  occupied  their  attention  more  than 
\mr\\  .  and.  with  mir  aec-n-d,  Marius  was 

•  I  to  take  command  <»f  the  armies,  in  this 
time  of  troul.le.      I'ndcr  his  direction  the  Ro- 
man te-rrit'>rv  wa>  ably  defended.      In   OQ6 
tie,  which    la-ted,  as  i>  said,  two  whole  d;: 
hundretl   and    f.irty    thousand  of  the   Ti-ir 
were  slain  ;  and  at  another  time,  a  hundred  and 
twenty  tln-u^and   of  the   Cimbri    fi  11   ujn»n  the 
liehl.  :v  thousand   that   were  taken 

If  Marius  had  IUH-II  ooH8id< 

ei-al  before,  he   mu-t.  c.-rtainly.  no\v  lie  regard- 
ed as  the  iir>t  in  the  lioinau  liepublic.     Ii; 
his   jiuj.ularity  was  very  irreat.  but  he  was  not 
inch  admired    for  his  \ii  \Tetellus, 

the  Li'eneial  whom  he  had  superseded  in  Nu- 
midia.  This  fact  was  to  him  a  subject  of  deep 
mortification,  and  he  therefore  did  every 


MART  rs    AND  S  vi.i.  A.  223 

Marius' jealousy  of  Metellus— Marius  in  disfavor. 

in  his  power  t->  accomplish  tlie  downfall  of  his 
rival.     Through  the  instrumentality  of  certain 
men  whom  he  had  in  his  employ,  lh 
d  in  procuring  the  banishment  "f  Metel- 
lus.     Hut  these  men,  who  soon  heeanie  known 
as  the  tools  of  his  ambition,  were  detected  in 
the   -  :<>n   of  the  grossest  crimes;    and 

when  Mariu<  wa<  called  upon  to  punish  them, 
a-   they   deserve-. 1,   he   did   every  thing   in    his 
power  to  facilitate  their  escape.      The  people 
•v  naturally,  indignant  at  Mich  conduct 
in  their  chief  ruler;  and  determining  to  take 
the  matter  in  their  own  hands,  pursued  thc-e 
n<  with  so  much  vigilance,  that  they  were 
<>l»liired,  for  -  surrender  then: 

Marius.  who  secured  them  against  the  attempts 
of  their  enen. 

This  only  made  tin-  matter  worse.     The  ser- 
!  which  Marius  had  rendered  to  the  State 
all  forgotten,  l»y  rea-«»n  of  this  con-piracy 
with  evil-doers.     The  people  resolved  that  they 
would  thi'iiisi-hvs  have  justice;  and  surround- 
ing, therefore,  the  house  in  which  lu-  was   pro- 
ng these  wicked  men,  they  forced  it  open, 
and  killed  them  with  clubs  and  stone-, 
turning  upon  Marius,  they  heaped   upon  him 
all  sorts  of  accusations ;  and,  as  a  kind  of  pun- 
ishment, demanded  the  repeal  of  the  sentence 


L'lM  K  KP  I    HI.  1C     OF     Ko  V 

.-—Marina  goes  to  Asia. 

of  liiuiMniie:.-  [etellns.     A  puM: 

Hcmhly  was  com  ad,  l»y  an  al- 

most unanimous  v<>tc,  Metellu-  W8 
the  rights  of  citizenship. 

With  iis  little  delay  as  possible,  the  fri. 
of  this  old  and  faithful  general   notified   him  of' 
what   had   takm   place;  and  when  in', 
arrived   that    he  was  on   hi>  way  f    K"ine,  the 
whoK-  ci1  "lit   t«»  inert   liiin,  so  that  hi* 

return  wa-.  in    fact,  a  triumph.      Hut  while  this 
9ioD  lilliMl  every  one  with  joy,  Mariu-  alone 
much  (K-jectc-d;   and,  with   a<  little  delay 
:.-a\in«r    Knme,   he   emharke.l    for 
.  under  pivtrncr  «.f  pi-rfoniiin 
which  IM-  had  \«.\ved  din  war  with 

•:il»ri.      It    i-  .-aid   that   his 
to   liriiiir  al>out  a  war  Let1. 
6  and  Mithridatr-.  On«  of 
ful  mi  in  the  KaM.     With- 

mpliehing  any  thing,  he  retnmed  to  \i 
where,  during  a  season  of  j-  d  amid  a 

nunilK-r 
came  in  a  ni»ti(H-<l. 

It    \  l..n^  h.,w»-ver,  lief.. re   diillci. 

B,  the   results  «if  which  v 

little  while,  felt  throULrh"iit  the  \\  :  :it  of 

Italy.    The-e  diilicultie-  had  their  nri^iu  in  the 
«rreat   privilege-    attached    t«.    the   (piality 


M  A  1:1  I  B    A  N  i>    S  v 


tie*  in  Koine. 


tinction,  wherever   he   ini%irht   cli«»o.-e   t«»   dwell, 

ill  the  election  ..f 

::«1  commanders,  and  was  a  sliaivr 

in  the  sovereignty  of  1  hore- 

,1'ural  that  tln»e  nations  that  had 

submitted  th>  to  the  commonwealth — 

I  .aid  tin-  :d   furnished   the   sol 

required    of  '  <-k    t<>   h;: 

.vhieh  tl.  thus 

supjM.rtiiiir.     And,  accordin,urlv,  when  an  oppor- 
tunity  occurred,  some  of  them   demanded  the 

9    and    name    of    Koman    citi/cns.      '! 
maintained   that   they  did  more  for  the  support 
and    :  .  ;!iun  -he  and    her  ter- 

ritoiits  did   themselves;    and   they  urired   that 
-   no  justice  in  treating  as  mere' 
iio  were,  in  every  way,  equal- 
fell-  na. 

'.limn-,    Livius   Drusus,  took   it   upon 
•••If  to  settle   these  difficulties  and   to  this 
end    made    >e\*-ral    propositions,  which    v 

nirly  obnoxious  to  the  Senate. 
::cm  was  a  very  lar^e  incivaM'  of  their 
number,  and   the  division  <»f  the  public  1; 

Uut  ilie  proud senatore disdained  to  have  intru- 

ihru.-t  amonir  them,  and   the  very 
of  Agrarian  law  wa>  en-'iiirh  to  rai>e  a 

15 


226  EEPUBLIC  OF   ROME. 

W&r  of  the  Confederates. 

acy  against  Drusus.  The  Latins  and  other  na- 
tions did  all  in  their  power  to  protect  him,  but 
notwithstanding  this  he  was  unable  to  escape 
the  fury  of  his  opposers,  and  was  finally  slain 
at  the  very  door  of  his  own  house. 

The  cruel  assassination  of  a  man  who  had 
labored  to  procure  the  rights  of  citizenship  for 
the  foreign  subjects  of  the  commonwealth, 
could  not  fail  to  arouse  among  them  the  great- 
est  indignation  ;  and  these  people  very  natu- 
rally sought  to  obtain  their  right-  by  force  of 
amis.  This,  it  was,  that  gave  rise  to  what  is 
called  the  Social  W<u\  or  War  of  the  Cv; 
eratcs.  Deputies  were  sent  from  one  ci; 
another,  and  a  league  entered  into  between 
them,  by  which  it  was  agreed  that  each  district 
should  furnish  a  certain  proportion  of  arms  anH 
soldiers.  They  appointed  also  their  most  skil- 
fnl  generals  to  command  their  troops,  and  made 
the  nmst  rapid  preparations  for  an  attack  upon 
Koine.  JJut  before  commencing  any  ac' 
hostility,  they  sent  ambassadors  to  the  city, 
demanding,  in  the.  name  ot'  all  the  nations  of 
Italy,  to  be  recognized  as  IJoman  cjtizens. 

A  demand  made  under  such  circumstances 
could  not  be  granted  ;  and  the  Senate,  even 
reJ'iiMiig  to  listen  to  their  ambassadors,  the 
Confederates  promptly  drew  out  their  forces, 


MARIUS  AND   SYLLA.  227 

War  of  the  Confederates. 

consisting  of  more  than  a  hundred  thousand 
men,  with  the  determination  to  enforce  their 
claims.      With   equal  promptness,  the   Senate 
al-o    raised    an    unusual    number    of   lei: 
which,  under  the  command  of  the  two  consuls, 

by  C.  Marius,  Cn.  Pompeius,  Corne- 
lius Sylla,  and  Licinus  Crassus.  took  the  lield 
against  the  foe.  Each  of  these  persons  com- 
manded separate  bodies,  on  account  of  the 
great  number  of  places  t<>  which  it  wa-  DI 
sarv  for  them  to  give  attention  at  the  same 
time;  and  thus  Rome  hud.  in  fact,  a  number 
of  very  large  armies  scattered  uver  different 
part-  of  Italy. 

The  spirit  manifested  on  both  sides  seemed 
to  be  nearly  the  same.  The  one  fought  <>bsti- 
nately  for  their  rights,  and  the  other  determined 
to  resist  to  the  last.  Many  were  the  bloody 
encounter*  between  them,  and  many  were  the 
-  taken  and  retaken,  without  any  apparent 
advantage  to  either.  But,  day  by  day,  their 

•re  diminished  and  weakened  to  such 
a  degree,  that  it  became  evident  that,  which- 
ever side  -wa-  victorious,  the  commonwealth 
must  be  ruinously  affected.  Willing  to  pre- 
vent, if  possible,  an  act  of  self-destruction,  the 
Senate  signified  their  determination  to  yield  to 
the  Confederates  as  much  as  was  consistent  with 


228  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 


Marius  falls  in  public  Estimation. 


the  dignity  of  the  Roman  name.  The  rights 
of  citizenship  were  at  first  given  to  such  as  had 
not  taken  up  arms ;  then  to  those  who  offered 
first  to  lay  them  down ;  and,  finally,  to  the  na- 
tions adjoining  the  Roman  territories.  In  this 
way  the  fury  of  the  enemies  was  allayed,  and 
they,  at  length,  becoming  suspicious  of  one  an- 
other, hastened  to  make  their  separate  peace. 

When  an  end  had  been  put  to  the  war,  the 
people,  as  a  matter  of  course,  began  to  talk 
over  its  incidents,  and  to  bestow  their  praise, 
or  their  dispraise,  according  to  the  merits  of 
the*  different  officers  who  had  been  trusted  with 
conducting  it.  The  great  reputation  that  had 
been  heretofore  sustained  by  Marius,  suffered, 
for  some  rea>on,  upon  this  occasion.  Whether 
it  was  on  account  of  the  heaviness  and  slow- 
ness natural  to  advancing  years,  or  because  he 
had  no  opportunities  to  di-play  his  military 
talents  cannot  be  known;  but  certain  it  is, 
that  he  did  very  little  for  the  glory  of  the  Ro- 
man arms,  while  Sylla,  his  great  rival,  distin- 
guished himself  by  so  many  grand  achieve- 
ments, that  immediately  after  the  conclusion  of 
the  war,  the  consulate  was  conferred  upon  him; 
and,  not  long  afterwards,  he  was  made  gover- 
nor of  Asia  Minor. 

About  this  time,  Mithridates,  the  mightiest 


MAKIUS   AND   SYLLA.  229 

Mithridates  offends  the  Roman  People. 

prince  of  all  the  Ka>t,  gave  great  offence  to  the 
Koman  people,  by  making  war  upon,  and  con- 
quering several  kingdoms  in  alliance  with  them. 
And  when  the  Senate  sent  to  him  a  request 
that  he  would  withdraw  his  forces  from  all  the 
provinces  under  the  protection  of  the  common- 
wealth, he  testified  his  contempt  of  their  power 
and  his  resentment,  by  causing  the  murder  of 
iifty  thousand  Rinnans,  who,  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  on  di  lie  rent  kinds  of  traffic,  had  set- 
tled in  the  East.  Not  content  with  this,  he 
wen  threau-iied  Koine  itself,  and  all  Italy,  with 
the  power  nf  his  arm.-. 

It  was  no  common  enemy  that  had  now  r'. 
up  against  Koine.  In  every  direction  he  had 
carried  the  terror  of  his  name,  and  nation  after 
nation  had  fallen  a  prey  to  his  fearful  arms. 
His  armies  were  said  to  reckon  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  foot,  and  fifty  thou- 
sand horse,  with  an  infinite  number  of  armed 
chariots  ;  and  his  seaports  contained  more  than 
four  hundred  ships  of  war.  But  the  ivsoum-s 
of  "Rome  were  also  vast ;  and  the  Senate,  trust- 
ing in  the  valor  of  its  soldiers,  and  in  the  expe- 
rience of  its  generals,  did  not  hesitate  to  enter 
the  lists,  even  against  a  prince  as  powerful  as 
Mithridates,  and  accordingly  appointed  Sylla 
to  undertake  the  war. 


230  REPUBLIC   or   ROME. 

Jealousy  of  Marius — Disturbances. 

So  great  an  honor  conferred  upon  a  hated  ri- 
val was  a  bitter  thing  for  Marius,  and  he  re- 
solved, if  possible,  to  take  it  from  him,  and  to 
have  it  bestowed  upon  himself.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  brought  over  to  his  own  inter* 
Tribune  of  the  people,  named  P.  Sulpitius,  a 
bold  and  enterprising  man,  and  an  inveterate 
enemy  of  Sylla.  By  skilful  management  of 
their  plans,  tlu-M-  two  persons  succeeded  in 
rousing  the  allies  <>f  Koine  again>t  the  Senate, 
and  in  inciting  them  to  demand  such  an  alter- 
ation of  the  laws,  as  w« >uld  throw  into  their 
hands  a  degree  of  p«>wer  which  would  enable 
them  to  defeat  the  purposes  of  the  Senate. 
This  met  with  in.-tant  opposition,  and  holy  days 
proclaimed,  whereon  ir  was  not  lawful  to 
do  business,  in  order  that  compliance  with  the 
demand  might  be  p.-aerfully  deterred.  P>ut 
Sulpitius,  without  any  regard  for  this  j.mda- 
mation,  summoned  an  a»embly'of  the  people, 
and  sent  to  the  consuls  a  bold  re<pie>t  that  the 
holy  days  should  be.  revoked,  in  order  that  the 
people  might  give  their  v«.tes  upon  the  altera- 
tion of  the  law.  This  being  refused,  a  great 
commotion  arose,  and  the  party  of  Sulpitius 
drawing  their  swords,  much  blood  was  .-pilled, 
and  the  son-in-law  of  Sylla  was  killed,  while 
endeavoring  to  succor  his  father.  Sylla,  him- 


MA  KITS    AND    SYI.LA.  231 


Marius  ?paree  the  Life  of  Syllm. 


self,  was   pursued   by   his  enemies,  and  com- 

pelled    t.)  rake   rei'nire  in  tlie  house  of  .Marius, 
which  he  happened  to  lind  open  in  his  flight. 

It  would  now  have  been  easy  enough  for 
Mari  >e  himself  forever  of  liis  rival;  but 

he  could   not   take  tin-  life  of  a  man  \vh<»  had 
,!ety  at  his  lhv>ide  ;  >till,  he  compelled 
him  to  return  to  the  a-embly,  and   declare  the 
holy  days  ah«»li>hed  and   n-j.t-ah-d.     But  Sylla 
had  no"  sooner  dune  this,  than  he  lied  from  the 
and  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  th">e 
-  which  he  had  commanded  in  the  war  of 
the    Confederates,   and    which   were   to  inarch 
under  him  airainst  Mithridates.     In  the-  mean 
time,  the  holy  days  hein*j   repealed,  Sulpitius 
procured   the  alteration   of  the  law,  and  suc- 
d  al-o  in  causing  the  command  of  the  ar- 
my to  he  taken  away  from  Sylla  and  best" 
upon  Marins. 

This  was  the  beginninir  of  a  >eries  of  dis- 
turbances, in  and  about  Rome,  which  miirht, 
with  truth,  be  called  a  civil  war.  Marius,  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  army,  now  on 
its  way  against  Mithridates,  sent  immediate! v 
some  officers  of  his  party  to  take  possession  of 
it,  until  he  could  himself  get  ready  to  overtake 
it.  Proceeding  with  all  dispatch,  these  officers 
finally  reached  the  camp  of  Sylla,  to  whom 


232  REPUBLIC   OF   HOME. 

Contention  between  Marius  and  Sylla. 

they  communicated  their  message,  requesting 
him  to  yield  to  them  the  command  of  the  ar- 
my. But  Sylla  was  not  one  of  those  men  who 
tamely  submit  to  the  dictation  of  others.  He 
bid  the  officers  of  Marius  to  go  back  to  Rome, 
and  tell  their  master  to  come  and  take  the 
command  himself,  if  he  could.  But  these  offi- 
cers becoming  insolent,  some  of  the  soldiers  of 
Sylla,  who  were  standing  by,  fell  upon  them 
and  slew  them ;  and  then,  turning  to  their 
commander,  besought  him  to  lead  them  against 
his  enemies  at  Rome,  before  taking  them  to 
Asia. 

The  news  of  the  slaughter  of  these  officers 
having  been  carried  to  the  city,  Marius  was  so 
enraged,  that  he  caused  a  number  of  the  friends 
of  Sylla  to  be  put  t<>  death,  and  their  houses  to 
be  plundered.  This  occasioned  so  much  terror 
among  others,  that  they  fled  with  all  haste  to 
the  distant  camp,  and  thither  carrying  a  report 
of  what  had  taken  place  at  home,  created  so 
much  excitement,  that  Sylla  determined  to  go 
back,  at  once,  to  Rome.  This  resolution  caused 
a  number  to  leave  him,  because  they  were  un- 
willing to  turn  their  arms  against  their  own 
country.  Still  these  were,  in  comparison,  so 
very  few,  that  Sylla  would  not  change  his  pur- 
pose ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  hastened  to  put  it 


MARIUS   AND   SYLLA.  233 

Sylla  marches  against  his  Enemies  at  Borne. 

into  execution.  His  colleague,  Q.  Pompeius, 
hearing  of  his  proceedings,  set  out  from  Rome 
to  join  him  ;  but  while  they  were  yet  at  some 
distance  from  the  city,  Marius  and  Sulpitius, 
who  had  no  army  to  oppose  them,  sent  the  pne- 
tors,  Brutus  and  Servilius,  to  command  Sylla 
to  stop  his  march. 

The  insolent  manner  in  which  these  two  men 
addressed  the  commander  of  the  army,  so  ex- 
asperated the  soldiers,  that  they  fell  upon  them, 
broke  the  fasces  and  axes  carried  before  them, 
and,  tearing  in  pieces  their  purple  gowns, 
would  have  killed  them,  if  Sylla  had  not  in- 
terfered. Seeing  the  praetors  return  to  Rome 
in  such  a  plight,  Marius  and  Sulpitius  became 
convinced  that  it  was  useless  to  resist  so  power- 
ful and  so  bitter  an  enemy,  and  accordingly 
dispatched  deputies  to  him,  hoping,  at  least,  to 
delay  his  march.  When  these  deputies  reached 
Sylla,  they  began,  at  once,  to  entreat  him  and 
his  colleague,  Pompeius,  to  suspend  their  anger, 
and  to  cause  their  troops  to  halt  within  five 
miles  of  Rome.  "  The  Senate,"  said  they,  "  are 
in  hopes  of  bringing  about  an  accommodation, 
and  will  see  you  fully  satisfied  in  this  matter. 
Be  contented  to  let  your  troops  rest  until  these 
difficulties  can  be  settled." 

Sylla  perceiving,  however,  that  the  object  of 


234  KEPUBLIC   OF  EOME. 

Sylla  drives  Marius  and  Sulpitius  from  the  City. 

the  deputies  was  simply  to  delay  his  progress 
until  Marius  could  raise  forces  to  meet  him, 
made  them  believe  that  he  accepted  their  pro- 
posals, and  even  directed  his  officers,  in  their 
presence,  to  mark  out  a  camp.  But  as  soon  as 
the  deputies  had  got  out  of  sight,  he  sent  his 
cavalry  behind  them,  and,  bringing  on  the  re- 
mainder of  his  army  with  the  greatest  speed, 
arrived  before  the  gates  of  Rome,  while  his 
enemies  supposed  him  to  be  still  far  away. 

Notwithstanding  the  suddenness  of  Sylla's 
appearance,  Marius  and  Sulpitius  were  par- 
tially prepared  to  oppose  him ;  but  their  resist- 
ance being  very  feeble,  he  entered  the  city 
sword  in  hand,  and  threatened  to  burn  and 
ra/A-  it  to  the  ground,  if  the  people  gave  any 
aid  or  protection  to  Marius  and  Sulpitius.  In 
consequence  of  this,  these  two  men  were  aban- 
doned by  every  one,  and  finally  forced  to  fly 
from  Rome. 

With  an  army  of  six  legions  at  his  command, 
it  was  no  difficult  matter  for  Sylla  to  convince 
the  people  that  there  were  many  things  in  the 
government  of  Rome  that  needed  revision  and 
correction,  before  order  could  again  exist.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  abolished  certain  laws  which  gave 
the  control  of  the  elections  into  the  hands  of  the 
people ;  he  took  measures  to  prevent  the  con- 


MARIUS  AND  SYLLA.  235 

Marias  and  Sulpitius  proscribed. 

tinual  speeches  by  which,  as  he  declared,  the 
Tribunes  were  wont  to  create  seditions  among 
the  people ;  and  established  a  law  which  de- 
chuvd  every  citizen  who  had  filled  the  Tribu- 
nate incapable  of  holding  any  other  magistracy 
for  the  future.  .Redressing,  in  this  manner,  the 
wrongs  which  he  thought  had  been  sustained 
by  the  patricians,  he  turned  his  attention  to  re- 
venging his  own  private  grievances,  and,  with 
as  little  delay  as  possible,  caused  the  decree 
which  gave  the  command  of  the  army  to  Ma- 
rius  to  be  repealed.  Not  content  with  this,  he 
obtained  articles  of  impeachment  against  him, 
a-  well  as  against  his  son ;  also  against  Sulpitius 
and  twelve  of  the  principal  senators,  for  having 
been  authors  of  the  last  insurrection.  These 
pei-sons  were  all  declared  enemies  of  the  Ro- 
man State.  Rewards  were  set  upon  their  heads ; 
they  were  interdicted  water  and  fire,  which 
meant  all  manner  of  subsistence  and  assistance 
from  anybody;  and  throughout  the  city  of 
Rome,  and  all  the  provinces  of  the  State,  the 
decree  was  proclaimed  by  sound  of  trumpet, 
ordaining  that  they  should  everywhere  be  pros- 
ecuted at  the  public  charge,  and  be  put  to 
death  as  soon  as  they  could  be  found.  Nor 
were  any  efforts  spared  to  find  them.  By  order 
of  Sylla,  troops  were  sent  out  in  all  directions 


236  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Sulpitius  slain — Cinna  made  Consul. 

to  take  them ;  but  none  of  them,  except  the 
Tribune  Sulpitius,  could  be  found.  He  was 
discovered  in  the  moors  and  marshes  of  Loren- 
tum,  by  some  of  Sylla's  horsemen,  who  imme- 
diately cut  off  his  head,  and  carrying  it  to 
Rome,  nailed  it  to  the  rostrum. 

Such  relentlessness  on  the  part  of  Sylla  be- 
gan, in  time,  to  arouse  bitter  feelings  towards 
him.  The  people  charged  him  with  cruelty; 
and  the  Senate  murmured  against  his  proscrip- 
tion <>f  their  colleagues,  as  if  they  were  common 
thieves  and  vagabonds.  Some  became  bold 
enough  to  say  that  lie  sought  the  death  of  a 
man  more  generous  than  himself;  and  that  he 
had  forgotten  that  he  owed  his  life  to  Marins, 
who  might  easily  have  destroyed  Trim,  when  he 
took  refuge  in  his  house.  These  reproaches  did 
not  escape  Sylla,  and  he  sought  to  overcome 
them  by  feigning,  subsequently,  a  vast  deal  of 
moderation.  Thus  he  testified  no  anger  at  the 
defeat  of  certain  person-,  who>e  election  forcer- 
tain  oHiccs  he  had  recommended,  and  even  suf- 
fered his  enemy,  Cornelius  Cinna,  to  be  chosen 
consul  the  following  year. 

Cinna,  it  is  true,  was  his  kinsman,  and  a 
patrician;  but  he  had  devoted  himself  to  the 
interest  of  the  plebeians,  and  was  consequently 
an  opponent  of  the  measures  of  Sylla.  As  soon, 


MARIUS   AND   SYLLA. 


Cinna  opposes  the  Measures  of  Sylla, 


theref«>iv,  as  he  had  entered  upon  tlie  duti 
his  office,  he  declared  that  lie  would  procure 
the  repeal  of  all  the  la\\  i!a,  and  even 

undertook,  through  the  instrumentality  of  one 
of  liis  creatures,  to  procure  the  inipeachineiit  of 
Sylla.  But  without  deigning  to  give  an  answer 
to  the  charges  made  again>t  him,  Sylla  left  both 
the  charges  and  his  judges,  and  set  out  from 
Koine  for  his  army,  to  make  war  against  3Iith- 
rida; 

In  order  to  maintain  himself  more  iirmly 
ugain-t  Sylla.  it  was  evident  that  Cinna  must, 
if  pu»ihle,  bring  ahout  the  recall  of  Marius. 
Hut  the  decree  of  his  proscription  was  a  very 
solemn  thing,  and  the  party  of  Sylla  in  Roiiu- 
BO  stronir,  that  its  n-versal  could  not  he  ac- 
complished without  some  difficulty.  To  make 
sure  of  it,  however,  he  gained  the  Confederates 
on  his  side,  by  promising  to  restore  to  them 
•  f  citizenship  which  Sylla  had  vir- 
tually taken  away  from  them.  In  a  secret  way 
he  notified  them  to  assemble  on  a  certain  day, 
in  large  numbers,  at  Koine,  with  swords  under 
their  gowns,  and  at  the  same  time  appointed 
an  assembly  of  the  people,  for  the  purpose  of 
proposing  a  new  law  for  their  acceptance. 

AVheii  the  day  arrived,  the  Forum  was  so 
crowded  with  the>e  Confederates,  that  the  citi- 


238  REPUBLIC   OF   EOME. 

Stratagem  of  Cinna. 

zens  themselves  could  scarcely  find  access  to  it. 
Cinna  mounted  the  rostrum,  and,  in  a  long 
speech,  set  forth  the  claims  of  the  Latins  and 
Italians,  and  maintained,  that  the  glory  and  in- 
terests of  the  commonwealth  demanded  that 
all  the  different  nations  of  Italy  should  form 
but  one  body,  and  one  State.  lie  demanded 
also,  that,  as  new  citizens,,  they  should  receive 
places  in  the  old  tribes,  as  chance  might  deter- 
mine it ;  and  declared  that  this  was  the  only 
way  to  preserve  peace  and  union,  and  to  in- 
crease the  glory  and  terror  of  the  Roman 
name. 

The  Confederates,  of  course,  received  such  a 
proposition  with  great  applause,  and  loudly  de- 
manded that  a  vote  should  be  taken,  in  order  to 
make  it  a  law.  But  the  ancient  citizens  and 
patricians  opposed  it  strongly;  and  from  dis- 
putes they  went  rapidly  to  loud  invectives  and 
bitter  accusations,  when  the  Confederates  final- 
ly drew  their  swrords  from  beneath  their  gowns, 
and  falling  upon  the  ancient  citizens,  drove 
them  from  the  Forum.  Octavius,  the  colleague 
of  Cinna,  and  a  friend  of  Sylla,  fearing  that 
something  like  this  might  happen,  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  have  in  readiness  a  large 
number  of  armed  people.  As  soon,  therefore, 
as  the  disturbance  took  place,  he  marched  to- 


MARIUS  AND   SYLLA.  239 

Cinna  leaves  Rome — He  is  deprived  of  his  Office. 

wards  the  Forum,  and  attacking  the  Latins, 
dispersed  and  pursued  them,  sword  in  hand, 
out  of  the  gates  of  the  city. 

Thus  abandoned,  Cinna  had  no  other  course 
but  to  leave  Rome  also ;  and  following,  accord- 
ingly, the  people  whom  he  had  invited  thither, 
he  visited  successively  their  largest  towns,  and 
endeavored  to  stir  them  up  to  revenge  them- 
selves upon  the  Roman  people.  It  was  not 
very  difficult  for  him  to  find,  wherever  he  went, 
enough  enemies  to  Rome.  Most  of  the  cities 
and  towns  resolved  to  unite  in  war  upon  their 
common  foe,  and  he  went  zealously  to  work, 
raising  men  and  money. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Senate,  hearing  of 
what  he  was  doing,  passed  sentence  upon  him. 
They  declared  that  he  had  forfeited  his  right 
as  a  citizen ;  they  deprived  him  of  his  office  of 
consul,  and  elecied  Lucius  Merula,  a  priest  of 
Jupiter,  in  his  stead.  This  increased  the  fury 
of  the  fiery  Cinna,  and,  resolving  upon  the 
most  destructive  measures  against  his  enemies, 
he  proceeded  to  Capua,  where  a  large  body  of 
Roman  soldiers  was  then  stationed.  The  offi- 
cers and  troops,  ignorant  of  what  had  happened, 
were,  of  course,  much  surprised  to  see  a  consul 
appear  among  them  without  his  lictors,  fasces, 
and  other  tokens  of  dignity.  "  You  see,"  said 


240  EEPUBLIC   or  BOME. 

The  Roman  Army  at  Capua  receive  him  as  Consul 

Cinna,  addressing  them,  "  an  unheard-of  prece- 
dent of  the  Senate's  tyranny.  You  had  made 
me  your  consul ;  the  people  of  Rome  had 
conferred  that  dignity  on  me  by  their  vofes ; 
and  the  Senate  deprives  me  of  it,  without 
hearing  what  I  can  say  for  myself,  and  even 
without  having  consulted  the  people.  I  am 
stripped  of  the  badges  of  my  office,  driven 
from  the  tribunal  and  the  city,  while  you  are 
thereby  treated  with  contempt,  dnd  deprived 
of  your  liberties  and  your  rights."  Saying  this, 
he  tore  his  robe,  called  upon  the  gods  for  jus- 
tice, and  threw  himself  upon  the  ground  as  if 
he  was  resolved  to  terminate  his  life. 

By  this  conduct  Cinna  succeeded  in  his 
scheme.  The  soldiers  began  to  cry  out  against 
the  tyranny  of  the  Senate.  They  lifted  the 
abused  consul  from  the  ground,  restored  to 
him  the  fasces,  and,  taking  an  oath  of  fidelity, 
acknowledged  him  as  their  consul  and  general. 
Thus  the  man  so  lately  forced  to  fly  from  Rome 
became  its  formidable  foe ;  and  the  consuls, 
Octavius  and  Merula,  were  obliged,  with  all 
haste,  to  raise  new  troops  to  oppose  any  pro- 
jects which  he  might  have  for  the  recovery  ot 
his  authority.  In  the  mean  time  the  party  of 
Cinna  increased  daily  in  strength.  People 
flocked  to  him  continually  from  the  city. 


MARIUS  AND   SYLLA.  241 

The  Flight  of  Marius. 

Many,  even  of  the  senators,  went  to  his  camp, 
and  it  was  reported  that  the  renowned  Cains 
Marius  and  his  son  were  on  their  way  to  join 
him. 

This  extraordinary  man,  after  having  been  six 
times  elevated  to  the  consulship,  and  after  having 
acquired  the  greatest  glory  for  the  arms  of  Rome, 
was  compelled,  on  account  of  his  many  acts  of 
tyranny  and  violence,  to  fly,  at  the  age  of  se \vn- 
ty  years,  from  his  country,  unattended  even  by 
a  single  friend  or  servant.  Escaping  through  the 
gates  of  the  city,  he  journeyed  all  day,  on  font, 
with  as  much  rapidity  as  his  great  age  would 
suffer  him  ;  and,  a  price  having  been  set  upon 
his  head,  he  often  found  it  necessary  to  conceal 
himself  among  rocks  and  caves,  in  order  to  pre- 
serve his  life.  Finding,  near  the  close  of  the 
first  clay  of  his  flight,  that  the  soldiers  of  Syl la- 
were  just  upon  his  track,  he  plunged  into  a  dis- 
mal swamp,  and,  burying  himself  up  to  his 
neck  in  the  sickening  mud,  there  remained 
during  the  entire  night.  Trembling  with  the 
cold,  and  half  dead  with  weariness,  he  left  his 
hiding-place  at  break  of  day,  and  stealthily 
pursuing  his  course  towards  the  sea-coast,  hoped 
that  he  might  meet  some  vessel  that  would  carry 
him  away  from  Italy.  He  had  not,  however, 
proceeded  very  far  before  he  encountered  a 
16 


242  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Manns  taken — lie  is  condemned  to  Death. 

party  of  persons  from  the  city  of  Minturnae, 
who,  perhaps,  hearing  of  the  reward  that  had 
been  offered  for  his  head,  were  out  in  search  of 
him.  Being  easily  recognized  by  some  one 
among  them  who  had  often  seen  him,  he  was 
at  once  seized,  and  stripped  of  all  his  clothing. 
A  rope  was  then  placed  around  his  neck,  and 
the  poor  old  man  was  dragged  along  the  road, 
amid  the  shouts  of  a  rabble  that  soon  gathered 
about  his  heels.  In  this  condition  he  was  car- 
ried into  the  city  of  Minturnie,  and  delivered 
up  to  the  magistrates,  who  cast  him  immedi- 
ately into  prison. 

After  a  short  conference,  these  magistrates 
determined,  agreeably  in  the  ediet  of  the  Ro- 
man Senate,  to  put  Murius  t«>  death,  and  ac- 
cordingly sent  to  his  prison  a  public  executioner, 
who  was  a  rimhrian  by  birth.  Marias,  on  see- 
ing the  man  enter  the  prison  sword  in  hand, 
easih  d  his  errand,  and  drawing  up 

his  tall  form  in  its  utmost  height,  iixed  upon 
him  such  a  terrible  look  from  beneath  his 
shaggy  brows,  that  the  frightened  Cimbrian 
stood  transfixed  upon  the  spot.  "Thou  barba- 
rian !"  shouted  the  old  Roman  general,  in  a 
voice  of  thunder.  "How  darest  thou  come 
hither,  sword  in  hand,  to  take  the  life  of  Caius 
Marius  ?  Begone,  vile  slave  !" 


MART  us    AND   SYLI.A. 


He  oscap.-  :  s  to  Africa. 


The  Cimbrian,  terrilied  by  the  voice  as  well 
as  by  the  name  of  Marius,  sprang  through  the 
pri-on  door,  and  rushing  into  the  presence  of 
the  magistrates,  declared  that  it  was  not  in  liis 
-•rto  take  rhe  life  of  >uch  a  man.  The  ma- 
gistrates, seeing  the  frightened  appearain 
their  executioner,  concluded  that  the  gods  had 
intrrfered  to  sivo  tlie  life  ot'^Iarius,  and,  with- 
out delay,  j  him  i'ree.  Tlu-v 

even  furnished  him  with  a  vessel,  which  car- 
ried him  to  the  island  of  J-jiariu,  whence, 
learning  that  his  S'-n  l;a<l  taken  refuse  at  tlie 
court  of  Numidia,  he  detenniniMl  to  pass  into 
Africa.  A  storm  having  arisen,  he  was  ohl.^ed 
to  put  into  one  of  the  port-  of  Sicily,  whore  he 
intrivd  further  ilitiij-isliy.  IK-  had  scarce- 
t  his  foot  upon  the  shoiv,  when  the  Koman 
<|iui'.-tor  in  command  <-f  that  country,  happen- 
ing to  he  upon  the  spot,  reco^niz-,  d  him  and 
onlered  him  to  be  seized.  A  tumult  at  once 
aro>e  between  the  otlicers  of  the  qiuestor  and 
the  men  belonging  to  the  vessel  of  Marius, 
which  resultc-d  in  the  loss  of  sixteen  of  the  lat- 
ter. Marius  himself  escaped,  and,  a  few  days 
after,  reaching  the  coa>t  of  Africa,  landed  near 
Carthage. 

In  this  ruined  city  he  hoped  to  find,  at  last, 
a  place  of  safety,  especially  as  he  had  always 


244  BE  PUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Marius  sitting  upon  the  Kuins  of  Carthage. 

been  a  friend  to  Sextilius,  the  governor  of  the 
province,  lie  had  not,  however,  been  here 
long  when  a  lictor  approached  him  with  orders 
from  Sextilius,  that  he  should  depart,*at  once, 
from  his  government,  under  penalty  of  being 
prosecuted  as  an  enemy  of  the  Roman  State. 
Overcome  with  grief  that  he,  who  had  once 
been  the  master  of  the  whole  world,  could  not 
now  find  for  himself,  in  any  country  upon  the 
earth,  a  resting-place  for  his  foot,  he  sat  and 
gazed  in  the  face  of  the  lictor  without  offering 
a  word  in  answer.  Pressed,  however,  for  a  re- 
ply, lie  finally  exclaimed:  "Go  and  tell  your 
master,  that  you  have  seen  Caius  Marius,  ban- 
islu-d  his  native  country,  sitting  upon  the  ruins 
of  Cartilage." 

Hut  Marius  did  not  wait  to  know  what  effect 
this  warning,  as  to  the  uncertainty  of  fortune, 
might  have  upon  the  Roman  governor.  Ri>ing 
from  his  humble  seat,  he  went  at  once  upon 
the  vessel,  which  was  still  at  hand,  and  spent 
the  ensuing  winter  in  wandering  along  the 
;  of  Africa,  waiting  the  return  of  a  servant 
whom  he  had  dispatched  to  his  son,  who  was 
in  that  country.  To  his  great  surprise,  young 
Marius  himself  returned,  and  together  they 
sailed  to  the  island  Cercina,  where  they  re- 
ceived information  of  the  proceedings  of  Cinna. 


M  A  K  I  I*  S     A  XI)     S  Y  L  L  A  .  245 


Cinna  invites  M?niis  to  join  him. 


AVitli  a-  little  delay  as  possible,  Marius  sent  a 
messenger  to  Cinna,  offering  to  aid  him  in  his 
intended  attack  upon  Koine.  In  reply,  Cinna 
dispatched  a  letter  addressed  to  him  as  procon- 
sul, and  sent  to  him  also  lictors,  and  all  the 
other  insignia  of  that  dignity.  But  Marius  re- 
turning them  all,  as  not  agreeing  with  his  pres- 
ent circumstances,  set  out  for  the  camp  of  Cin- 
na in  nothing  but  an  old  gown,  and  with  his 
hair  and  beard  rough  and  unshorn. 

The  news  soon  flew  to  Rome,  that  Marius 
had  returned  to  Italy  with  a  design  to  render 
aid  to  Cinna;  and,  immediately,  more  than 
five  hundred  citizens  went  out  to  join  him. 
Encouraged  thus,  he  visited  a  number  of  the 
towns  upon  his  route,  and,  by  means  of  hand- 
some promises,  induced  great  numbers  of  peo- 
ple to  join  his  standard.  Many  also  of  the  Ro- 
man soldiers,  who  had  formerly  been  under 
him,  came  and  offered  their  services;  so  that 
in  a  short  time  his  own  army,  added  to  that  of 
Cinna,  was  thought  sufficient  to  march  against 
Rome. 

In  the  mean  time,  active  preparations  had 
been  made  for  the  defence  of  the  city.  The 
consul  Octavius,  did  not,  unfortunately,  enjoy 
that  popularity  among  his  troops  so  necessaiy 
to  the  successful  conduct  of  the  affairs  of  war. 


KEPUBLIC  OF  KOME. 


Rome  threatened  by  Marius  and  Cinna. 


The  Senate,  therefore,  in  the  absentee  of  Sylla, 
who  was  far  away  in  Asia,  fighting  against 
Mithridates,  sent  for  Cecilius  Metellus,  a  man 
of  great  courage  and  ability,  then  engaged  in 
making  war  upon  the  Samnites.  They  wrote 
to  Metellus,  instructing  him  to  bring  back  his 
army  to  Rome,  if  he  could  make  honorable 
conditions  with  the  enemy;  and,  at  the  same 
time,  charging  him,  in  case  he  should  not  be 
able  to  do  this,  to  leave  it  in  care  of  his  lieu- 
tenants and  return  himself.  Through  the  man- 
agement of  Marius,  the  Samnites  refused  to 
come  to  terms,  and  Metellus  was  consequently 
obliged  to  go  to  Rome  alone. 

On  his  arrival,  the  soldiers  of  Octavius  loud- 
Iv  demanded  Metellus  for  their  general,  decla- 
ring that  under  him  they  would  brave  the 
greatest  warrior  that  could  be  brought  against 
them.  But  he  refused,  so  decidedly,  to  listen 
to  their  seditions  language,  that  many  nf  them, 
offended,  went  over  to  Marius,  who  created 
still  farther  disorder  in  the  city,  by  offering 
freedom  to  all  the  slaves  who  would  join  his 
army.  Meantime,  a  great  clamor  arising  among 
the  people  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  food, 
the  Senate  were  compelled  to  send  deputies  to 
Cinna,  to  make  him  some  overtures  of  peace. 
But  Cinna  being  unwilling  to  receive  them, 


MA  KITS   AND   SYLLA.  247 

Cinna  restored  to  the  Consulship. 

unless  they  acknowledged  him  as  consul,  they 
weiv  forced  to  ivturn  to  Rome. 

This  wa-  a  \vry  trying  situation  for  the  Sen- 
ate. On  the  one  hand,  the  city  was  so  closely 
.red  by  the  armies  of  Marius  and  Cinna, 
that  no  food  could  anywhere  be  procured.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  appointment  of  Merula  to 
the  office  of  consul  could  not  be  repealed,  and 
Cinna  would  grant  ivlief  only  mi  condition  that 
this  oilier  should  be  declared  his  own.  Under 
such  circumstances,  it  was  impossible  to  do  any 
thing ;  but,  with  great  generosity,  Merula  came 
into  thi'  Senate,  and  voluntarily  laid  down  tho 
consulship.  The  Senate  now  sent  deputies 
again  to  China,  inviting  him  to  enter  Rome, 
and  assume  the  office  of  consul.  Nothing  was 

O 

demanded  of  him  but  an  oath,  that  he  would 
put  none  of  his  fellow-citizens  to  death,  except 
in  accordance  with  the  usual  course  of  law. 
But  this  oath  he  would  not  take,  although  he 
promised  that  he  would  never  give  his  consent 
to  the  death  of  any  one. 

Every  one  in  Rome  was  not,  of  course,  satis- 
fied with  these  proceedings.  Metellus  chose  to 
banish  himself  rather  than  acknowledge  Cinna ; 
but  the  consul  Octavius,  whom  Cinna  had  re- 
quested to  leave  the  city,  arrayed  himself  in 
his  consular  habit,  and,  placing  himself  on  his 


248  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Brutal  conduct  of  Marius.  * 

tribunal,  resolved  to  meet  his  fate.  Cinna  and 
Marius  marched  to  the  gates,  the  former  enter- 
ing with  his  guards,  while  the  latter,  remaining 
outside,  refused  to  go  in  until  the  decree  which 
proscribed  him  had  been  repealed  by  the  peo- 
ple. It  was,  therefore,  necessary  to  call  an  as- 
sembly of  the  tribes,  but  the  vote  had  not  been 
half  taken,  when  the  furious  man  burst  into  the 
town  at  tin- Ik-ad  of  his  lawless  troops,  and  mur- 
di-ivd  every  one  that  he  could  find  of  those 
whom  he  supposed  to  be  his  enemies.  The 
consul  Octavius  was  slain  in  his  tribunal;  and 
Merula,  knowing  that  he  would  meet  a  similar 
fair,  npriii-d  his  own  veins  and  died.  The 
whole  city  pivM-nted  u  dreadful  sight.  Blood 
flowed  on  every  side,  and  the  dead,  both  of  the 
patricians  and  the  plebeians,  lay  nnburied  in 
the  streets.  The  soldiers  of  Marius  had  orders 
to  kill  all  tho>e  whose  salute  he  did  not  return, 
so  that  his  friends  and  officers  were  afraid  to 
come  into  his  presence. 

This  bloodthirsty  man  was  not,  however,  sat- 
isfied. He  had  not  yet  been  able  to  lay  his 
hand  upon  Sylla,  on  whom  he  longed,  more 
than  on  all  others,  to  vent  his  rage.  This  hate- 
ful rival  was  far  away,  fighting  the  battles  of 
the  Republic  in  distant  lands.  Still,  the  old 
monster  sought  to  do  him  all  the  injury  he 


MAUITS   A  xi)   SYLLA.  249 


Cinna  and  Marius  made  Consuls. 


could.  IK-  raxed  his  house  to  the  ground,  con- 
fiscated his  goods,  and  sought  to  slay  his  wife 
and  children,  who,  however,  fortunately  es- 
caped his  fury.  Uy  means  of  the  power  which 
ised  over  the  Senate,  he  caused  all  the 
laws  established  during  Sylhfs  consulship  to 
be  revoked,  and  also  had  this  valiant  soldier 
declared  an  enemy  of  the  commonwealth. 

AVhen  the  season  for  another  election  of  con- 
suls again  occurred,  Cinna  and  Marius  man- 
aged to  be  chosen  to  this  high  office ;  but  by 
this  time  new>  wa-  brought  that  Svlla  had  put 
an  end  to  the  Mithridatic  war,  and  that,  hav- 
ing reduced  the  provinces,  he  wa^  returning 
with  a  large  army  to  Koine.  The  two  consuls 
were  naturally  alarmed  by  this  intelligence,  for 
they  would  now  have  no  ordinary  leaders  like 
Octavius  and  Merula  to  contend  with,  but  a 
skilful  general,  who  had  formerly  driven  Ma- 
rius himself  from  his  country,  and  who  had 
recently  maintained  a  successful  war  with  one 
of  the  most  powerful  monarchs  of  the  East. 
Marius  especially  was  terribly  disturbed.  He 
had  already  experienced  all  the  miseries  of 
banishment  and  flight,  and,  old  age  now  full 
upon  him,  he  trembled  at  the  thought  of  en- 
countering them  again.  So  great  was  his  anx- 
iety that  he  was  unable  to  sleep  either  by  day 


250  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

The  Death  of  Marius. 

or  night,  and,  unable  any  longer  to  endure  it, 
he  abandoned  himself  to  excessive  drinking. 
Although  he  might  have  found  in  this  way 
a  temporary  relief  for  his  harassed  mind,  he 
rapidly  sank  beneath  it,  and  before  the  arrival 
of  Sylla,  fell  into  a  pleuritic  fever  which  termi- 
nated his  wretched  life.  Thus,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years,  died  the  unhappy  Marius,  who 
had  been  seven  times  consul  of  Rome,  and 
who,  had  it  not  been  fur  his  execrable  ambi- 
tion, might  have  won  the  admiration  and  grati- 
tude of  his  country.  The  news  of  his  death 
wa>  received  with  the  greatest  joy,  and  every 
Roman  leaped  as  if  a  load  of  shackles  had  been 
stricken  from  his  body. 


CIVIL  WARS  AND  CONSPIRACIES. 

FKOM   86   TO    62  B.  C. 


and  Sylla — Sylla  returns  to  Italy — His  Con- 
test with  young  Marius — The  Siege  of  Preneste — Telesiuus 
attacks  Kciin- — 11«-  is  defeated  by  Sylla — Cruel  Conduct  of 
Svlla — His  I  .sui  patiou  of  Power — His  Abdication  thereof — 
\\i<  I>.;tili  an«l  it>  Coii-e^nerices — The  Servile  War — Defeat 
of  Spartacus — Crassus  and  romp'-y — t  'haraoter  of  Catiline 
—  His  Consjiiracv  :iLr;ii!i>'  Home — 1  )i-c«>v<-ry  of  his  Plans  by 
aiiS  taken  to  drtVn>i  aOCUSCS 

Catiliin  -. -n.-iic  —  Catiline  leaves  Rome — The 

Aniba.-sadurs  of  the  Allobroges — Their  betrayal  of  the  Con- 
spirators— Defeat  and  Death  of  Catiline — Ilonor  paid  to 
Cicero. 


X. 

CIVIL  WARS  AND  CONSPIRACIES. 


MANY  tliinirs  conspired  to  delay  Sylla  in  his 
return  t<>  Italy,  ami  among  them,  especially, 
the  diiliculties  which  he  had  in  conclu- 
ding a  peace  with  Mithridates,  together  with 
the  annoyances  thrown  in  hU  way  by  the  army 
under  the  command  of  Valerius  Flaccus,  which 
-ent  by  Cinna  into  Asia  against  Mithridates, 
under  ju\-tenco  that  the  war  which  Sylla  had 
made  upon  that  prince  \\:t>  disowned  by  the 
commonwealth.  This  army  consisted  of  two 
legions;  but  its  leader,  the  consul  Valerius,  was 
a  man  of  such  a  tyrannical  and  violent  spirit, 
that  his  soldiers  did  not  hesitate  to  second  the 
ambitious  designs  of  his  lieutenant,  Fiinbria, 
who,  immediately  upon  their  arrival  in  Asia, 
aspired  to  the  supreme  command.  Valerius 
was  slain  by  the  hand  of  Fimbria  himself,  and 
this  base  man  at  Qnce  took  the  place  of  the 


254  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Mithridates  and  Sylla. 

general  whom  he  had   sworn   to   follow  and 
obey. 

Mithridates  was  not  ignorant  of  what  had 
taken  place  in  Rome,  and  he  knew  well  enough 
how  anxious  Sylla  was  to  be  at  liberty  to  has- 
ten thither.  In  hopes,  then,  of  securing  terms 
more  favorable  to  himself,  he  made  use  of  ev- 
ery means  to  detain  and  wear  out  the  Roman 
general.  Different  parties  were  intrusted  with 
negotiating  between  the  two  great  hostile  lead- 
er.-, and  diil'erent  term-  were  several  times  pro- 
posed, without  coming  to  a  sati-ta<-:<>ry  conclu- 
sion, until,  linally,  the  patience  of  Sylla  being 
exhausted,  he  spoke  with  so  much  tierce- r,< 
the  ambassadors  of  Mithridates  that  they  went 
terrified  to  their  master,  and  advised  him,  if  ho 
valued  his  lit'i-  and  cn>\vn,  to  come  speedily  to 
terms  with  the  iiery  Roman.  .Mithridates  then 
de.-iivd  a  personal  interview  with  Sylla — be- 
.  by  making  peace  with  him,  he  would 
not  be  free  from  the  war  which  Fimbria  was 
carrying  on  against  him. 

To  this  interview  Sylla  readily  agreed,  and 
they  met  at  Dardanum,  a  town  of  Troas.  On 
approaching  the  Roman  general,  Mithridaies 
held  out  his  hand  to  him,  in  token  of  friend- 
ship ;  but  Sylla,  drawing  back,  asked  him 
whether  he  accepted  of  the  peace  upon  the 


CIVIL  WARS.  255 

Sylla,  by  Stratagem,  gains  the  Army  of  Fimbria. 


conditions  last  proposed.  The  haughty  mon- 
arch of  the  Kast  was  so  confounded  by  the 
rior  haughtiness  of  the  Koman  general, 
that  ho  could  scarcely  find  words  lor  utterance, 
and,  like  an  aba-hed  maiden,  faintly  murmured 
that  he  was  willing  to  accept  the  terms.  Upon 
this  Syila  embraced  him,  and  assured  him  that 
lie  would  soon  put  Fimbria  out  of  a  condition 
to  give  him  any  further  trouble. 

Faithful  to  his  w«>rd.  Sylla  marched,  without 
delay,  against  Fimbria,  and  pitched  his  camp 
by  that  of  his  treacherous  rival.  AVith  as 
little  loss  of  time  as  possible,  he  sent  him  a 
summons  to  surrender  up  to  him,  as  procou-ul, 
'inmand  which  he  had  so  basely  obtained, 
without  the  consent  of  either  the  Senate  or  the 
Roman  people.  Jlut  Fimbria  ivfu-ed  to  com- 
ply with  his  request,  and  thereupon  both  ap- 
plied tin-  to  the  fortifying  of  their  re- 
camp-.  The  soldiers  of  both  parties 
being,  however,  of  the  same  nation,  and  chiefly 
of  the  same  city,  it  was  quite  natural  that,  in  a 
foreign  land,  they  should  be  rather  disposed 
to  friendship  than  to  hostility.  Consequently, 
when  they  met,  they  saluted  one  another,  and 
by  degrees  visited  from  camp  to  camp  clan- 
destinely, until  at  length  it  was  impossible  to 
make  them  oppose  each  other  in  deadly  battle. 


256  REPUBLIC   OF   HOME. 

Sylla  returns  to  Italy — Cn.  Pompeius. 

Sylla  knew  how  to  take  advantage  of  this.  He 
instructed  his  own  troops  to  encourage  deser- 
tion from  the  camp  of  Fimbria,  and,  one  day, 
this  ridiculous  general  found  himself  all  alone 
in  the  midst  of  his  silent  fortifications.  Know- 
ing that  Sylla  would  punish  him  for  his  murder 
of  Valerius,  he  fled  to  Pergarnus,  and  there  run 
himself  through  with  his  own  sword. 

With  as  much  haste  as  possible,  Sylla  now 
set  forward  with  his  troops  for  Rome,  and  after 
many  and  long  journeys,  both  by  sea  and  land, 
finally  arrived  in  Italy.  The  two  consuls,  Cinna 
and  Carbo,  hearing  of  his  approach,  ordered 
young  Marius  to  raise  forces,  and  likewise  re- 
quired the  Samnih-s  to  assist  them  against  their 
common  enemy.  It  was  the  intention  of  Cinna 
to  meet  S\lla  before  he  entered  Italy,  but  a 
portion  of  his  army  refusing  to  go  on  board  of 
the  ships  provided  for  their  transportation,  a 
tumult  arose,  during  which  a  soldier,  becoming 
enraged  with  Cinna,  ran  him  through  with  his 
sword. 

On  reaching  Italy,  the 'army  of  Sylla  was 
much  increased  by  handsome  bodies  of  troops 
brought  to  him  by  Metellus  Pius  and  Marcus 
Crassus;  but  nothing  gratified  him  more  than 
the  succors  which  he  received  from  Cn.  Pom- 
peius, afterwards  surnamed  the  Great.  The 


CIVIL   WARS.  257 

Sylla  wins  the  Army  of  Scipio. 

force  brought  to  him  by  this  young  general, 
then  only  twenty-three  years  of  age,  consisted 
of  three  legions,  which  was  truly  a  great  addi- 
tion to  the  army  of  Sylla,  then  numbering  only 
thirty  thousand  men,  while  his  enemy  counted 
two  hundred  thousand,  under  the  command  of 
fifteen  general  officers  of  great  experience  and 
courage. 

New  accessions  were  thus  daily  made  to  the 
army  of  Sylla;  and  when,  one  day,  L.  St- 
one of  the  consuls,  encamped  very  near  him, 
he  contrive.!,  under  some  pretence,  to  procure  a 
short  truce,  during  which  his  soldiers,  as  in  the 
case  of  Fimbria,  brought  over  to  his  standard 
a  large  number  of  the  troops  of  Scipio.  The 
whole  matter  was  carried  on  so  secretly  that 
the  consul  himself  >uspected  nothing,  until  he 
was  anv>ted  in  his  own  tent  by  Sylla's  soldiers, 
and  carried  to  their  general.  His  army  was 
also  much  augmented  through  the  aid  of  ag 
whom  he  sent  to  the  very  foot  of  the  Alps,  in 
order  to  gain  the  Cisalpine  Gauls.  But  young 
Marius,  scarcely  less  active  than  he,  procured, 
daily,  large  forces  to  oppose  him ;  and,  among 
others,  obtained  of  the  Samnites  forty  thousand 
men,  whom  he  placed  under  the  command  of 
Pontius  Telesinus,  the  ablest  warrior  of  their 
nation.  Having  been  elected  to  the  dignity  of 
17 


B. 

Mwiiu  rooted  by  SjrIU,  and  bmieg«d  in  Preneste. 

;i.  ami    t« 

MLrly, 

k«    head 

osl   him.     The  ti«rht  \  l»i lv. 

and    l'<>r  .  v   douhtt'ul,   until 

lion  of  ><,nie  of  Manila's  troops  c; 
s«>   iniich    C'.nj'u-ion    that    hi-   whole  a. 
broken   up  and    i  '^^t,  an«l   lu\  hii. 

compclli-d   t«,  take   n-:'iiir»-   in    1'reneste,  a  \vrll- 

ic-d  j.lace  close  a 

Imairininir  that   ho  >h«»ul<l  concliuk'  tin-  war 
1,  Sylla  at  once 
.    After  causing  lines, 

d-iuhts,  t  :--.WM    up, 

ditches  to  bf  d  all  the  avenues  t<>  tin- 

:iv  LTuai-di-fl. 
a  dfi  •    the 

•n.  he  c;: 

pie   togc  g   i-.'inplaiiu-d    «,; 

inannei-  in  \\  d  them- 

to  be  inMi  d  lies,  he  sold  t 

Of   Mai\i;-  and  bil    :•  .lower.-,  and  th--n  ivtu. 
t(.  hi-  or.  l,v  the  eaj'ture  ol 

:  niinate  I 

Th«  of  all  Italv  was  now 

este.  where  Marius,  >hut  uj  . 
Irving  to   elude  tin-  gng|  3      La.       Hi-   im- 

:ider    the    di:  of 


V  I  L     \V  A  KS. 
T«lMtan»  marebee  to  Borne. 

LT  to  gain  access  t«>  him  at 
] 
•M-tuntlv 

:is   fought,   and    th<>u- 

upon   thousands  were  >  !:h«mt    af- 

t'to  Marine     Thu-  allairs 

ct'iiliiuu  d,  until  only  three  of  the  great   chief- 
tains of  Marius,  with  hut  four  legions  of  troops, 

cause.    These,  joinin<r 

Telesinus,  general  of  the  Samnites,  resolved  ob- 
:oly  to  continue  the  war.     Designing  to 
3,  Telesinus  came  forward,  at  the 
\t\  thousand  troops.    Sylla,  send- 
iiiir  I'-'ini^ey  to  attack  liini  in  the  rear,  pivpared 
to  assault  him  viir"r«ni>ly  in  front;  but  tin-  cun- 
,  taking  advantage  of  the  dark- 
ness, flew  with  all  speed  towi 
with   so   much   eagerness   di<l    he   pinvue    liis 
:i,  that   in  ilie  nioniin^  the  van  of  his  ar- 
my was  seen  from  the  hills  about  the  city, 
ibitants,  terrified  by  such  a  host  of 
peop!'  us  they  knew,  lu-hl  them  in  - 

liest  hatred,  flew  to  the  gates,  and,  closing 
them,   prepared   to  defend    their  walls.      On- 
Telesinus,  concealing  nothing  of 

hate- 
ful to  all  his  nation.  When  close  upon  it,  and 
ready  for  his  operations,  he  walked  through  all 


260  JiEPUBLic   OF   ROME. 

Sylln  opposes  him. 

tin-  ranks  and  lines  of  his  army,  exclaiming — 
"  We  must  cut  down  that  i'nrest  win-re  thn-e 
:oiis  wolves  take  shelter.  Let  lire  and 
sword  destroy  all — spare  nothing  ;  mankind 
can  never  U-  free  a-  I'-nir  a<  any  Jioma: 
main  al: 

The  people,  under  the  command  of  Appins 
Claudiu-,  su-tained  nol>]y  the  attack  of  Telesi- 
nu>.  No  OIK-  d  I.,  li-rht  i;,r  tlu-ir  h 

and  j.roju-rty  ;  and.  alth«.iiLrli  Apj»ius  was  killed 
in  tlu-  early  part  «.f  the  cn^a^ciiH-nt.  tlu-\ 

]>inir  oil'  the  Samniti->.  nnt'.l  Svlla 
should  In-  alilc  to  CMIIU-  to  tlu-ir  ai«l.  This  he 
did  with  all  dili^-ncc.  'IV  him 

near  tlu-   city,  and   a    l»atllc    f.-r    i1 

led.      It    waa  a   M-I-V  Moody  alfair. 
I><»th  ai-mir-   tMii-j-ht  with  the  c 
ration.      \'i<-!«.ry  or  death   appean-d    to   l,e  the 

motto  of  every  soldier  -n  tin-  held,  and  for  a 

while  th--  :    extremely  <loul,tfnl. 

At  la>t  ihe  Samnites,  traininir  a  coiisideralde 
advanta-v  ..ver  the  troops  of  Sylla,  pu>hed 
them  H>  liard  that  >everal  d'  his  cohort  and 
entire  LegiODfl  irave  way  and  lied.  With  >w..rd 
in  hand,  Sylla  endeavored  io  urn  ;  Imt 

the  ternn'-strickeM  and  disordered  soldiers,  niv- 
ini;- no  heed  to  his  commands,  rushed  into  the 
gates  of  IJome.  The  inhabitants,  fearing  that 


CIVIL   WAS  261 

Telesinus  overcome — Preneste  surrenders. 

-umnites  would  enter  with  them,  >hui,  with 
all  ha>te,  the  gate-,  and  letting  fall  the  port- 
cullis, killed  ii  great  number  of  permits,  and 
among  them  >e\eral  senators  in  Sylla's  army. 
All  retreat  being  thus  cut  off  to  a  large  portion 
of  his  army,  they  were  obliged  to  turn  ah«>ut 
and  laee  the  enemy,  who  \  ..m  them. 

JJut  night  coming  uu  iu  the  mid-t   of  the  con- 
ilict,  both  parties  were  compelled  to  suspend, 
and   fcyylla   retired    to   his   camp.      He   ascer- 
d,    however,    that   the   left    wing   of    his 
,   under  e«»iiimand   of  Crassus,  had    over- 
niy.  and  covered    the   lie-Id   with 
nn»iv  than  iifty  thousand  slain,  among  whom 

;  thousand  were  aU"  taken  prisoners; 
the  next  day  Sylla  caused  all  these  to  be  shot 

with  da 

habitants  of  Preneste,  an:«'Mg  whom 
Marius  had   taken  refuge,  opened  their  i 

OOQ   a-  they   heard  of  SyllaV  .   and 

Marius  and  a  brother  of  Telesinus  endt-a- 

a  subterran.  ,  but  fail- 

i  their  attem})t,  they  killed  each  other,  in 
order  that  t:  ij    not  fall  alive  into  the 

hands  of  the  enemy.  The  people  of  the  tu\vn 
were  all  put  to  death,  except  the  women  and 
the  children  ;  and  rSylla,  iinding  his  enemies 


EEPUBLIC  OF  HOME. 


Cruel  Conduct  of  Sylla. 


finally  subdued,  entered  Rome  at  the  head  of 
his  victorious  troops. 

But  the  glory  which  Sylla  had  acquired  in 
war  was  destined  to  be  tarnished  by  the  mon- 
strous acts  of  which  he  was  author  during  the 
peace  that  followed.  The  remnant  of  the  large 
armies  that  had  opposed  him,  de-irons  <>f  quar- 
ter, sent  deputies  to  intercede  with  him.  lie  re- 
plied, that  lie  would  spare  all  those  who  made 
themselve-  worthy  of  life  by  slaying  tlu'ir  com- 
panions. These  unfortunate  men  thereupon 
turned  their  arm-  again-t  eaeh  other,  and  a 
terrible  slaughter  followed.  Six  thousand  of 
them,  however,  e.-eaped  and  came  to  Home. 
These,  Sylla  caused  to  be  shut  up  in  the  llip- 
podmme.  and  then  .-ending  his  troop>  into  the 
plaee,  butehered  them  in  cold  blood.  Soon 
after  tin-,  he  pn>.-cribed  eighty 
teen  hundred  knights,  and  a  large  number  of 
the  richest  citi/ei;-  of  Rome.  l'-r  the  murder 
of  each  of  these,  he  ».  Hi-red  a  reward  of  two 
talents,  and  even  -paid  the  money  to  the  very 
slaves  for  tl;  'nation  of  their  ma-ters. 

But  his  cruelty  was  not  limited  to  the  party 

of  Marius.     lie  permitted  his  friends  and  offi- 

10  revenge  themselves  upon  all  their  pri- 

vate enemies,  so  that  the  streets  of  Rome  con- 

tinually flowed  with  blood.     No  one  was  sure 


CIVIL   WARS.  263 

lie  declares  himself  Perpetual  Dictator. 

of  living  a  >inu'le  day,  and  every  one  dreaded 
to  encounter  the  glance  of  tliis  cruel  monster. 

man,  C.  Metellu^,  wa-.  however,  coura- 

s  enough  to  rise  up  in  the  midst  of  the 

Senate,  and  ask  Sylla  to  put  a  stop  to  the  mis- 

!'  hi-  1'ellow-citizens.  "We  do  not  ask 
you,"  said  Mctellus,  "  to  forgive  any  of  those 
whom  you  have  resolved  shall  die;  but  pray 
you  to  free  us  from  an  uncertainty  worse  than 
deatli  itself,  by  letting  us  know  whom  you  de- 
sign to  spare."  Sylla  coolly  replied,  that  he 
had  not  yet  fixed  upon  the  number  of  those 
whom  he  should  allow  to  live,;  that  he  had 
proscribed  such  as  his  memory  presented  to 
him,  and  that  he  should  continue  to  proscribe 
all  that  lie  could  remember  among  his  enemies. 
As  if  maddened  by  the  sight  of  the  torrents 
of  blood  which  lie  had  shed,  he  now  began 
to  proscribe  whole  towns  and  nations,  slaying 
such  as  he  pleased,  and  stripping  the  inhab- 
itants of  their  houses  and  lands,  in  order  to 
reward  the  soldiers  who  assisted  him  in  his 
work  of  death  and  desolation.  He  also  de- 
clared himself  perpetual  Dictator,  and  thus 
changed,  in  fact,  the  government  from  a  repub- 
lican to  a  kingly  form.  All  the  ancient  laws 
were  abrogated — new  ones  were  created.  He 
made  himself  master  of  the  public  treasures, 


264:  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Resigns  voluntarily  bis  Authority. 

and  disposed,  according  to  his  pleasure,  of  all 
the  estates  and  fortunes  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
It  is  true  that  he  suffered  the  Senate,  and  most 
of  the  principal  officers  to  remain,  but  their 
authority  was  absolutely  nothing,  and  the  in- 
ducements to  seek  them  were  almost  wholly 
taken  avvay. 

"Hut  the  most  extraordinary  thing  concerning 
Sylla  is  yet  to  be  related.  Incredible  as  it  may 
seem,  this  singular  man,  after  having  destroyed 
more  than  a  hundred  thousand  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  the  civil  war;  after  having  caused 
the  massacre  of  ninety  senators  and  twen: 
Imndivd  knights,  went  into  the  Forum,  and,  in 
the  presence  of  the  assembled  people,  took 
from  his  own  person  the  emblems  of  his  office, 
SIMM  away  his  lictmx  di-mis-ed  his  guards,  and 
voluntarily  iv>ii:-ned  the  office  which  he  had 
usurped,  and  which  lie  might  have  long  con- 
tinued to  hold.  It  is  natural  to  suppose  that 
the  fear  of  being  torn  to  pieces  by  a  deeply- 
injiuvd  people,  would  have  deterred  him  from 
an  act  so  bold  as  this.  "Hut  his  chief  paasion 
had  been  revenge,  and  this  being  at  last  satia- 
ted by  the  seas  of  blood  which  he  had  spilt,  he 
eared  for  nothing  more,  not  even  power  or  life. 
The  multitude  were  thunderstruck  at  what  he 
did.  They  could  not  believe  their  eyes,  and 


CIVIL   WARS.  265 

Bylla's  Death— His  Epitaph. 

gazed  with  silence  and  awe  upon  him  as  he 
stepped  down  from  his  tribunal,  and  mingled, 
like  a  private  man,  among  the  people,  who,  a 
moment  before,  bowed  and  trembled  in  his 
presence.  And  strange,  too,  as  it  may  seem, 
this  very  prince  of  murderers  walked  forth 
alone  into  the  open  street,  and  proceeded  with- 
out any  molestation  to  his  own  house.  It  is 
said  that  one  young  man  addressed  to  him 
some  in-nlting  language,  which  Sylla  disdained 
to  answer ;  but  the  Romans,  generally,  deemed 
this  act  of  abdication  the  last  and  greatest  ef- 
fort of  magnanimity  and  heroism.  They  never 
attempted  to  punish  his  murders,  although  he 
declared  that  he  was  ready  and  willing  to  be 
tried  lor  any  of  his  deeds.  Not  long  after  this 
i  Sylla  died,  in  his  own  bed,  as  quietly  as 
the  most  peaceful  citizen  of  the  commonwealth 
could  have  desired.  A  few  days  before  his 
death  he  wrote  his  own  epitaph,  the  substance 
of  which  was — "That  nobody  had  ever  out- 
done him,  either  in  obliging  his  friends,  or  in 
persecuting  his  enemies." 

Dissensions  and  civil  wars  did  not  cease  at 
the  death  of  Sylla.  The  grave,  indeed,  had 
scarcely  closed  upon  him,  when  the  consul  Lep- 
idus  undertook  to  make  himself  the  master  of 
the  government.  To  attain  his  object,  it  was 


266  EEPUBLIC  OF  EOME. 

Consequences  of  Sylla's  Death. 

necessary  to  make  himself  the  leader  of  a  par- 
ty;  Lnt  as  Pompey,  Metellus,  Crassus,  and  even 
his  colleague,  Catulus,  were  chiefs  of  the  pa- 
trician side,  in  whose  favor  he  had  declared 
himself,  he  believed  that  he  should  be  more 
successful  by  going  over  to  the  party  of  Man' us, 
whose  leaders  had  been  dr-troyed  in  the  civil 
war. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  consulate,  being  ap- 
pointed to  the  government  of  (iallia  Cisalpina, 
he  began  at  once  to  raise  an  army,  and  gained 
to  his  party  the  pnetnrians.  lirutus  and  Per- 
penna.  Inviting  ihc  people  of  Koine,  and  6fr 
penally  tln>>»-  belonging  t'»  the  party  of  Marius, 
to  j«»in  him,  lie  marched  towards  the  city,  with 
the  f«»nd  h<»pe  that  he  should  become  another 
Sylla.  lint  Catulus  at  the  head  of  the  leirions 
and  of  all  the  nobility,  charged  him  with  so 
much  vigor,  that  his  army  was  cut  to  pieces, 
and  he.  himself  compelled  to  tly.  Mortified  by 
his  ill  lucceat)  and  surely  grieved  by  certain 
private  matter-,  he  died  soon  after,  and  with 
him  his  party  fell,  lirntns,  one  of  his  coadju- 
having  been  overcome  by  Pompey,  was 
-mated  a  few  days  alter  by  orders  of  that 
:  al  ;  and  LV-rpenna,  the  remaining  chief, 
thus  finding  himself  at  the  head  of  thirty-two 
thousand  meu,  marched  into  Spain,  according 


CIVIL  WARS.  207 

The  Spanish  War— The  Servile  War. 

to  the  example  x>f  Sertorius,  a  general  of  great 
lame,  who  yet  maintained  the  party  <>i'  ^larius 
at  Lusitania. 

The  Senate,  in  order  to  preserve  those  prov- 
,  sent  Pompey,  with  a  lar^e  anny.  against 
the-e  Uvo  generals.  A  irreat  many  battles  t«n,k 
place,  without  much  advantage  on  either  >ide, 
until  tlie  death  of  Sert«»rius,  wliieh  wa-  occa- 
sioned l»y  the  jc-alou-y  of  IVrpeMMa.  Tliis  1111- 
skiliul  ireneral  was  then  ea>ily  heatc-n  l»y  I'um- 
\vh(».  ordering  lii>  head  to  be  cut  off,  put 
an  end  t«»  the  Spanish  war. 

In  the  mean  time  a  very  dangerous  war 
had  luvii  rxeited  in  Koine  by  one  Spartaein, 
a  'I'hracian  irladiator.  wlm,  with  -rvnity  com- 
-.  had  e-eaped  iVoin  inij.ri-i.nmrnt  in  ( 'a- 
pua.  .1  laving  IK-CM  joincil  by  a  multitude  of 
runaway  slaves  and  j.ea-antry  fruiii  the  neigh- 
borhood, lie  iouirht  an<l  irained  a  ninnber  of 
eoii-ideraMe  battles.  Finding  himself,  linally, 
at  the  head  of  >i\ty  thou-and  men,  he  occa- 
sioned so  much  alarm,  that  the  two  consuls 
were  sent  out  with  two  legions  to  >ubdue  him. 

O 

These  he  succeeded  in  defeating,  and,  with  his 
victorious  troops,  was  on  his  wav  to  Rome, 
when  Crassus,  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army, 
went  out  to  meet  him.  Keaching  Spartacns 
near  Rhegium,  the  Roman  general  surrounded 


268  KEPUBLIC   OF  KOME. 

Spartacus  overcome — Crassus  and  Pompey. 

him  with  a  ditch,  six  miles  in  length  ;  but  Spar- 
tacus evaded  him  by  night,  and  continued  his 
march  towards  the  city.  Crassus,  however, 
determined  that  he  should  not  thus  escape ; 
and  following  closely  after,  compelled  him  to 
engage,  and  finally  overcame  him  after  an  ob- 
stinate conflict.  Sixty  thousand  of  his  followers 
were  slain,  six  thousand  were  taken  prisoners, 
and  lie  himself,  it  is  said,  fell,  fighting  on  his 
knees  upon  a  heap  of  fallen  enemies. 

A  large  number  of  these  troops  of  Sparta- 
cus escaping,  fled  into  the  neighboring  moun- 
tains, where  Pompey,  on  his  return  from  Spain, 
met  with,  and  easily  defeated  them.  By  this 
achievement  he  sought  to  raise  his  own  glory, 
to  the  disparagement  of  Crassus;  and  this,  to- 
gether with  other  matters,  was  the  cause  of  the 
ji-alousy  which  existed  between  them,  when, 
subsequently,  they  were  both  elevated  to  the 
consulship.  This  jealousy  was,  however,  the 
means  of  giving  great  pleasure  to  the  people  of 
Koine.  Crassus,  to  win  their  atl'ection,  gave 
them  an  entertainment  upon  a  thousand  long, 
and  well-spread,  tables.  He  also  distributed 
corn  enough  to  all  the  populace  to  maintain 
their  families  three  whole  months.  Pompey, 
on  the  other  hand,  to  outdo  Crassus,  restored  to 
the  Tribunes  all  the  authority  of  which  they 


CIVIL   WARS.  269 

W:ir  Avith  the  Pirates— Catiline. 

had  been  deprived  by  Svlla,  and  by  this  meas- 
ure made  himself  the  idol  of  the  people,  who, 
during1  the  war  with  the  Pirates,  which  occurred 
soon  after,  conferred  upon  him  such  unlimited 
powers,  that  he  might  easily  have  become  sole 
reign  of  the  commonwealth. 

The  success  which  attended  him  in  this  war, 
was  tlu-  reason  for  appointing  him  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  army  that  had  been  sent  out 
against  Mithridates ;  and  the  decree  that  gave 
him  this,  gave  him  also  the  government  of 
Asia,  and  the  superintendency  of  the  vast  na- 
val power,  with  which  he  had  subdued  the 
Pirates.  At  the  time  of  his  departure,  Eome, 
then  the  mistress  of  the  world,  seemed  to  be  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  profound  peace.  So  far  as 
external  appearances  could  be  an  indication, 
union  subsisted  among  her  citizens,  and  an 
unusual  prosperity  in  all  her  affairs.  But  be- 
neath all  this  seeming  tranquillity,  a  secret  agi- 
tation was  going  on  ;  and  new  parties  and  new 
schemes  were  in  process  of  formation,  which 
could  bring  about  nothing  short  of  anarchy 
and  despotism. 

At  the  head  of  one  of  these  dangerous  par- 
ties was  Lucius  Sergius  Catiline,  a  descendant 
of  an  illustrious  patrician  family,  and  one  of  the 
ministers  of  the  cruelty  of  Sylla,  to  whose  cause 


270  EEPUBLIC  OF  KOME. 


Character  of  Catiline. 


he  had  ever  been  devoted.  Murder,  rapine, 
and  conflagration  had  been  the  first  deeds  and 
pleasures  of  this  formidable  man ;  and,  withal, 
he  possessed  such  powers  of  dissimulation  as 
enabled  him  to  throw  a  veil  over  his  horrid 
vices,  and  render  himself  agreeable  to  the  just 
and  good.  Of  the  many  terrible  crimes  which 
he  is  said  to  have  committed,  that  of  the  mur- 
der of  his  wife  and  son  may  be  regarded  as 
a  specimen  of  such  as  are  not  too  disgusting  to 
relate. 

At  a  time  when  Home  had  grown  rich  by 
the  spoils  of  so  many  conquered  nations ;  when 
ambition,  luxury,  effeminacy,  and  all  the  vices 
inseparable  from  wealth  were  exerting  their 
baneful  influences,  it  is  easy  to  imagine  that  a 
man  like  Catiline  could  find  those  who  would 
be  willing  to  second  him  in  any  plot  which  he 
might  form,  either  against  private  or  public  in- 
terests. Indeed,  there  were  hundreds  of  young 
men,  who,  having  consumed  the  patrimony  of 
their  ancestors  in  extravagance  and  riotous  liv- 
ing, were  ready  to  do  any  thing  which  could 
relieve  them  from  their  enormous  debts,  and 
promote  the  gratification  of  their  depraved  de- 
sires. As  they  could,  through  the  high  offices 
of  the  State,  find  every  facility  to  attain  their 
wishes,  they  sought  to  fill  them  with  persons  of 


CIVIL   WARS.  271 

Conspiracy  against  the  Government 

their  own  diameter.  Dut  being  baffled  in 
their  efforts  to  do  this,  there  were  some  of 
them  who  determined  to  u.-sussinute  the  prin- 
cipal officers  of  the  State,  and  seize  upon  die 
government. 

Catiline,  foremost  in  every  thing  evil,  was, 
of  course,  a  prominent  leader  upon  this  occa- 
sion;  and,  through  the  influence  which  he 
could  use  as  a  member  of  the  Senate,  he  con- 
trived to  draw  into  the  plot  a  great  number  of 
senators,  knights,  and  notable  men,  who,  from 
different  motives,  were  willing  to  join  him. 
Among  these  were  Lentulus,  an  unprincipled 
man,  who  had  been  consul  with  Marius ;  and 
Cethegus,  formerly  a  Tribune  of  the  People, 
whom  he  governed  at  his  own  pleasure.  So, 
also,  in  this  great  conspiracy,  were  many  wo- 
men of  the  best  families  in  Rome,  as,  for  in- 
stance, Sempronia,  so  remarkable  for  her  high 
birth,  lively  wit,  undaunted  courage,  and  in- 
comparable beauty.  Indeed,  as  to  numbers,  it 
was  sufficient  for  almost  any  purpose  ;'for  in  it 
were  engaged  all  those  Roman  youth  who  had 
ruined  themselves  by  their  licentious  courses, 
all  those  who  aspired  to  posts  in  the  govern- 
ment, and  all  those  who  desired  to  be  revenged 
'  upon  their  too  powerful  enemies.  To  these, 
Catiline  made  the  most  extravagant  promises, 


272  EEPUBLIC   OF  EOME. 

Discoveries  made  by  Cicero. 

on  condition  that  they  would  elevate  him  to 
supreme  power. 

A  conspiracy,  in  which  so  many  were  en- 
gaged, could  not  i«main  secret  for  a  great 
length  of  time.  Sooner  or  later,  some  one 
must  prove  a  traitor ;  and,  fortunately  for  the 
Roman  people,  it  engaged  the  attention  of  such 
a  man  as  Cicero.  In  a  short  time  the  whole 
city  talked  about  it ;  but  nothing  definite  was 
known,  except  that  Catiline  was  at  the  head  of 
a  large  party,  who  were  aiming  at  some  great 
revolution  in  the  government.  Many  supposed 
that  it  was  only  the  overthrow  of  Cicero,  who 
had  been  preferred  to  him  for  the  consulship. 
But  Cicero  was  better  informed.  From  the 
moment  that  he  discovered  that  there  was  a 
secret  combination  in  the  city,  he  made  every 
effort  to  discover  those  who  were  engaged  in  it, 
and  what  were  their  designs.  He  ascertained 
their  places  of  meeting,  and  finally  succeeded 
in  introducing  spies  among  them,  who  reported 
faithfully  to  him  all  their  proceedings.  To  his 
surprise  and  sorrow,  he  learned  that  it  was  the 
intention  of  the  desperate  men  to  set  fire  to  the 
city  in  several  places,  and,  during  the  confusion 
that  would  necessarily  follow,  to  murder  the 
chief  men  of  the  Senate  in  their  very  houses. 
It  was  also  a  part  of  their  plan  to  cause  the 


CIVIL   WARS.  273 

Plans  of  the  Conspirators. 

troops  then  under  the  command  of  Manlius  to 
advance,  in  order  to  make  themselves  masters 
of  Rome  and  of  the  government. 

"While  all  this  was  going  on,  news  was  unex- 
pectedly brought  that  Pompey,  having  subdued 
Mithridates,  was  returning  to  Italy  with  a  vic- 
torious army.  This  was  sufficient  to  throw  Cat- 
iline and  all  his  party  into  the  utmost  conster- 
nation. They  were  speedily  called  together  at 
night,  in  a  private  part  of  M.  Lecca's  house. 
Various  plans  were  suggested  for  carrying  their 
purposes  into  immediate  execution ;  and  finally 
it  was  resolved,  on  the  night  preceding  the  Sat- 
urnalia, to  set  fire  to  the  city  in  a  hundred  dif- 
ferent places ;  to  cut  the  water-pipes,  in  order 
to  prevent  the  extinguishment  of  the  fire ;  to 
murder  the  whole  Senate,  and  to  seize  Pom- 
pey's  children,  and  hold  them  as  hostages 
against  his  power  and  resentment.  Thereupon 
Catiline  was  to  place  himself*  at  the  head  of 
the  forces  of  Manlius,  and  settle  his  authority 
in  the  State.  Cethegus,  and  a  Roman  knight 
named  Cornelius,  volunteered  to  go  and  stab 
Cicero  in  his  own  house. 

The  correctness  of  this  report  being  sufficient- 
ly established,  on  the  following  morning,  by  the 
appearance  of  Cethegus  at  Cicero's  door,  this 
prudent  consul,  at  once,  convened  the  Senate, 

13 


274  EEPTJBLIC   OF  KOME. 

Means  taken  to  defend  the  City. 

to  whom  he  communicated  the  whole  plot,  sta- 
ting that  he  did  not  yet  think  it  a  proper  time 
to  name  the  persons  by  whom  he  had  been  in- 
formed. So  great,  however,  was  the  confidence 
reposed  in  his  probity,  that  without  asking  him 
to  prove  his  allegations,  he  and  his  colleague 
were  fully  empowered  to  use  all  means  neces- 
sary to  protect  the  commonwealth. 

Without  delay,  and  as  quietly  as  possible, 
the  greatest  preparations  were  made  to  defend 
thi'  city.  Guards  were  stationed  in  different 
parts  to  thwart  the  purposes  of  the  incendiaries 
Bodies  of  troops  were  raised  and  placed  con- 
veniently for  action,  and  every  thing  was  done 
which  the  occa-ion  seemed  to  require.  Mean- 
while, a  packet  of  letters,  directed  by  some  of 
the  conspirators  to  different  individuals,  falling 
into  the  hands  of  Crassus,  was  brought  by  him 
into  the  Senate  and  there  opened  and  read. 
They  contained  the  whole  plan  of  the  conspira- 
cy ;  and  the  persons  for  whom  they  were  in- 
tended, were  warned,  if  they  valued  their  lives, 
to  depart  at  once  from  Rome. 

These  letters  produced  a  great  sensation  in 
the  Senate ;  and  while  they  were  deliberating 
upon  them,  Catiline  walked  in  and  took  his 
seat,  with  an  air  as  innocent  as  that  worn  by 
the  most  upright  man  among  them.  But  this 


CIVIL  WARS.  275 

Cicero  accuses  Catiline  before  the  Senate. 

more  than  Cicero  could  endure.  Rising 
from  the  seat  in  which  he  was  presiding  over 
tli at  august  assembly,  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon 
the  guilty  Catiline,  and  with  that  voice  by 
wlii eh  he  was  accustomed  to  astonish  all  who 
heard  him,  he  exclaimed : 

"  How  long,  O  Catiline,  dost  thou  design  to 
abuse  our  patience  ?  How  long  are  we  yet  to 
be  the  object  of  thy  fury?  How  far  dost  thou 
intend  to  carry  thy  guilty  audaciousness  ?  Dost 
thou  not  perceive,  by  the  continual  watch  all 
over  the  city,  by  the  terrified  looks  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  by  the  angry  countenance  of  the  sen- 
ators, that  thy  pernicious  designs  are  discov- 
ered? Faith t'ul  eyes  are  upon  all  thy  proceed- 
ings ;  thou  canst  not  hold  any  council  so  secret, 
but  that  I  hear  of  it :  I  am  present  there  my- 
self; I  am  present  to  thy  very  thoughts.  Dost 
thou  fancy  that  I  am  ignorant  of  what  passed, 
last  night,  at  M.  Lecca's  house?  Didst  thou 
not  there  distribute  employments,  and  divide 
all  Italy  into  shares  with  thy  accomplices? 
Some  are  to  take  the  field  under  the  command 
of  JVIanlius,  and  others  to  stay  in  the  city,  to 
fire  it  in  a  hundred  different  places  at  a  time. 
During  the  disorder  and  tumult  occasioned  by 
so  general  a  fire,  the  consuls,  and  most  of  the 
senators,  are  to  be  massacred  in  their  own 


276          REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Catihce  attempts  to  answer  Cicero. 

houses.  The  Senate,  that  august  and  sacred 
assembly,  is  informed  of  the  most  minute  cir- 
cumstances of  the  plot ;  yet  does  Catiline  live ; 
not  only  lives,  but  is  one  among  us,  and  looks 
on  us  as  so  many  sacrifices.  While  I  am  now 
speaking,  he  is  marking  out  those  whom  he  de- 
signs for  death ;  yet  we  are  so  patient,  or  rather 
so  weak,  that  we  are  less  intent  on  the  method 
how  to  punish  his  crimes,  than  how  we  shall 
preserve  ourselves  from  his  fury." 

.Catiline,  rising  with  a  sneer  upon  his  face, 
begged  the  Senate  that  they  would  not  listen 
to  the  invectives  of  this  enemy  and  low-born 
upstart,  who,  for  the  sake  of  getting  for  himself 
a  name,  could  thus  injure  a  high-born  senator, 
by  such  unmitigated  lies.  But  he  was  not  al- 
lowed much  time  to  speak.  His  guilt  was  al- 
ready too  apparent  to  be  denied,  and  he  was 
forced  to  stop  in  his  harangue  by  a  general 
murmuring,  which  finally  broke  out  in  loud 
and  repeated  accusations  against  him  as  an  in- 
cendiary, a  parricide,  and  an  enemy  of  his 
country.  His  face  pale  with  anger,  and  his 
eyes  flashing  with  rage,  he  rushed  from  the 
senate-chamber,  crying  out,  that,  since  they 
had  provoked  him  to  the  utmost,  he  would  not 
fall  alone,  but  would  involve  in  his  own  fate 
those  who  had  sought  his  ruin. 


CIVIL  WARS.  277 

Catiline  'eaves  Rome-  The  Allobroges. 

Calling  together  Lentulus,  Cethegus,  and 
some  of  the  other  conspirators,  he  informed 
them  of  what  had  happened,  and,  urging  them 
to  lose  no  time  in  putting  Cicero  to  death,  he 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  three  hundred  armed 
men,  and  went  directly  to  the  camp  of  Manlius. 
Lentulus  and  the  other  chiefs  set  to  work,  in 
the  mean  time,  t<»  draw  into  their  plot  the  am- 
bassadors of  the  Allobroges  who  were  then  in 
Rome,  making  vain  efforts  to  procure  the  dis- 
charge of  their  nation  from  the  enormous  taxes 
which  they  owed  to  the  Roman  State.  The 
conspirators  told  these  ambassadors  that  if  they 
would  join  Catiline,  every  surety  would  be  giv- 
en them  of  a  general  discharge  of  their  debts. 

The  ambassadors  listened  with  attention  to 
these  proposals,  but  concluded,  upon  consulting 
together,  that  they  would  gain  more  in  the  end 
by  making  a  revelation  of  this  scheme  to  the 
Senate.  Going  therefore  to  Cicero,  they  ob- 
tained all  the  promises  that  they  could  desire, 
and  then  returning  to  the  conspirators,  pretend- 
ed to  accept  their  offers,  and  received  a  written 
agreement  from  them  signed  by  Lentulus  and 
the  principal  chiefs  of  Catiline.  With  this,  re- 
tracing their  steps  to  Cicero,  they  informed 
him  that  on  the  following  night  they  should 
proceed,  under  an  escort,  to  the  camp  of  Cati- 


278  KEPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

Conspirators  betrayed  by  the  Allubroges. 

line,  with  letters  to  him  containing  the  plan  of 
the  conspiracy.  Acting  upon  this  information, 
Cicero  sent  a  sufficient  number  of  armed  men 
to  intercept  these  Allobroges;  and,  having 
seized  the  papers  in  their  possession,  he  was 
furnished  with  all  the  evidence  necessary  for 
causing  the  immediate  arrest  of  Lentulus,  Ce- 
thegus,  and  other  prominent  coadjutors  of  Cat- 
iline. 

The  Senate  was  at  once  convened ;  and  the 
conspirators,  being  convicted  by  their  own  hand- 
writing, were  severally  earned  to  separate  pris- 
ons. In  order  to  prevent  the  pnssibility  <>f 
their  escape,  Cicero  determined  that  the  Sen- 
ate should  decide,  at  once,  concerning  them. 
Each  senator  being  accordingly  asked  to  give 
his  opinion,  the  conspirators  were  condemned 
to  death  by  the  consent  of  all  except  Julius 
Caesar,  who  made  a  long  speech  in  favor  of 
sparing  their  lives  until  Catiline  should  be  van- 
quished. Sentence  of  death  was  pronounced 
upon  them,  and  without  waiting  for  its  confir- 
mation by  an  assembly  of  the  people,  Cicero 
caused  them  to  be  executed  within  an  hour  af- 
terwards. 

The  news  of  their  death  fell  like  a  thunder- 
bolt, scattering  the  multitude  of  their  accom- 
plices still  in  the  city;  and  when  it  reached 


CIVIL   WARS.  279 

The  Destruction  of  th«  Conspirators. 

the  camp  of  Catiline,  many  persons  who  had 
been  attracted  to  his  standard  by  the  hope  of 
plunder,  fled  in  the  utmost  terror.  But,  in  no- 
wise  daunted,  the  bold  conspirator  made  new 
levies  of  troops,  and  only  seemed  more  eager 
to  drink  the  blood  of  his  countrymen. 

Defeated  in  the  plan  which  he  had  formed 
for  taking  possession  of  Rome,  he  determined 
to  pass  over  into  Gaul.  But  in  this  he  was  al><> 
disappointed.  A  powerful  army  was  sent  out 
to  cut  off  his  retreat ;  and,  finding  himself  >< »« »n 
surrounded  by  his  foes,  he  was  compelled  to 
come  to  battle.  The  fight  was  long  and  ol»>ti- 
nate.  The  soldiers  of  Catiline  knew  that  they 
must  either  conquer  or  die,  and  accordingly 
they  neither  gave  nor  asked  quarter.  As  an 
inevitable  consequence,  they  were  all  slain 
upon  the  field  ;  and  Catiline  himself  was  killed 
as  he  stood  fighting  upon  a  heap  of  his  fallen 
enemies. 

When  it  was  known  from  how  dangerous  a 
plot  the  city  had  been  saved  through  the  un- 
wearied efforts  of  Cicero,  nothing  could  exceed 
the  praise  bestowed  upon  him  by  all  the  citi- 
zens. His  house  was  surrounded  by  people 
who  came  to  do  him  honor.  Even  the  women 
put  lights  in  their  windows  in  token  of  their 
gratitude.  Almost  ready  to  worship  him,  every 


280  REPUBLIC   OF   ROMK. 

Honor  paid  to  Cicero. 

one  declared  that  he  was  the  second  loumU-r 
of  Rome  and  the  father  of  his  country.  And, 
without  doubt,  he  merited  the  character  given 
to  him  by  the  Emperor  Augustus,  in  tln-st-, 
words :  "  He  was  a  good  citizen,  whu  hived  his 
country  -incerely." 


JULIUS  C^SAR. 

FROM   62   TO   85    B.  a 


POMPKT  and  Cesar — Cunning  of  C«sar — His  Ill-treatment 
of  Cicero — His  Conquests — His  Love  of  MOM.  v — l«-al" 
l'<.iii|x-y — I'oni|M-y  made  ('on-ul — Cfiesar  demands  th- 
<  >tli' •«•  ;ni(l  fail.-  —  !!••  threatens  Rome,  and  is  <l<-.-lar--<l  \\\,-  Kn- 
«-niy  oltlu-  ('••miijoii\v«-alth — H<-  inarches  against  tlu-  « 
Defeats  Pomj-t-y — I-  nia-l--  Consul  and  Dictatcr — I "i 
assume  the  Title  of  King — t't.n-j  ira-'v  formed  against  him — 
His  Assassination  —  Its  Consequences  —  Marc  Anton\ 
h;u'>  Will — Antony's  Oration — Octavius  returns  to  Rom. — 

Antony's  Jealousy — <>rtaviu-'   MK-C-. 11.-  i>  ina-1.-   Cmi-ul 

j.irntois  pro-ci  il.od — Octaviu-  an-1  Antony  : 
cilt.,l— Tin-  Triumviri— The  Battle  of  Philip].!— Tin  lin.l  of 
the  Commonwealth. 


ASSASSINATION   OF  JULIUS   CJffiAB. 


XL 

JULIUS   C.ESAR. 


D  the  mere  name  of  a  Repuhlic,  the 

>f   U.»me    had  hy   this   time   little 

enough   t<>   hoast.      Tlie  whole  a<lmini>trati"ii 

iiolde  families,  who  passed 

ilar  dignity  about  to  one  another  as 

they  pleased.     The  sovereignty  of  tlie  people 

almost  gone;   and,  except  in  a  very  f'-w 

;ike  Cato,  Cicero,  and  Catullus,  tlu-iv  \\;i> 

little  honesty  or  patriotism  to  l»e  i'"ii!id  in  any 

one. 

Two  remarkable  men  were  at  this  time  divi- 
ding the  attentitni  of  the  whole  Roman  people. 
OIK-  of  them  was  Ciieu-  Pompey,  an  illustrious 
general,  who  had  won  laurels  in  every  part  of 
the  known  world,  and  who,  in  consideration  of 
his  splendid  achievements,  had  received  the 
surname  of  Magnus  (Great).  He  was  a  man 
of  untainted  morals,  kind,  mild,  and  humane ; 


286  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Pompey  and  Csosar. 

and,  if  he  was  not  possessed  of  true  patriotism, 
he  had  not  any  of  that  ambition  which  may 
lead  one  to  become  a  destroyer  of  freedom. 
That  any  one  should  pretend  to  an  equal  share 
of  the  glory  which  he  had  acquired  was  highly 
offensive  to  him ;  and  this  was,  doubtless,  the 
cause  of  the  enmity  which  sprang  up  between 
him  and  Julius  Caesar,  a  general  of  undoubted 
valor,  exalted  courage,  and  wonderful  ability. 
It  could  not  be  otherwise  than  that  two  parties 
should  spring  up  in  the  commonwealth,  led 
respectively  by  these  two  illustrious  rivals. 
Pompey,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  Senate, 
div\v  alter  him,  naturally,  those  who  sympa- 
thi/ed  witli  the  nobility  of  Rome;  and  Ciesir, 
who  could  be  first  in  no  other  position,  under- 
took to  revive  the  party  of  Marius,  which  was 
n-ally  that  of  the  plebeians.  Having  been 
publicly  impeached  for  causing  the  statue  of 
Marius  to  be  secretly  placed  in  the  capitol,  he 
defended  himself  with  so  much  eloquence,  that 
he  not  only  secured  his  own  absolution,  but 
also  procured  the  recall  of  those  who  had  been 
banished  during  the  dictatorship  of  Sylla. 

Pompey  did  not,  however,  share  the  undivi- 
ded favor  of  the  Senate.  In  the  wealthy  and 
ambitious  Crassus,  he  had  an  enemy  and  a  ri- 
val in  the  government,  dreaded,  at  first,  even 


JULIUS  CJESAR.  287 

C'linniiij;  of  Otesar — Hi*  increasing  Power. 

more  than  Caesar ;  so  that  while  he  had  to  con- 
tend against  the  growing  popularity  of  the  lat- 
ter, he  was  also  obliged  to  guard  against  being 
supplanted  by  the  former.  But  Caesar,  a  man 
of  far  more  shrewdness  than  either,  knew  that 
his  success  depended  upon  diverting  their  at- 
tention from  him,  and  causing  as  much  mutual 
dread  as  possible  between  them.  So  well  did 
he  succeed  in  this,  that  lie  obtained,  through 
their  united  influence,  the  consulate;  but  he 
had  no  sooner  arrived  to  this  dignity,  than  he 
managed,  by  a  master-piece  of  cunning,  to  cre- 
ate an  enmity  between  Pompey  and  the  Sen- 
ate, and  between  the  Senate  and  the  people. 
This  he  contrived  to  do  by  undertaking  to  re- 
vive the  Agrarian  law,  which  Pompey  and 
Crassus  consented  to  advocate,  and  wrhich  their 
respective  friends  in  the  Senate  could  not  fail 
to  oppose.  The  passage  of  the  law  was  pro- 
cured ;  but  Caesar  alone  gained  the  applauses 
of  the  people  for  whose  benefit  it  was  made. 

Thus  Pompey,  distrusted  and  cast  out  by  his 
patrician  friends,  became,  in  a  measure,  de- 
pendent upon  his  rival  Caesar,  who,  knowing 
too  well  the  importance  of  keeping.him  quiet, 
obtained  for  him  the  government  of  both  Spains, 
while  he  gave  that  of  Syria  to  Crassus,  and  at 
the  same  time  secured  for  himself  the  govern- 


288  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 


His  Ill-treatment  of  Cicero. 


ment  of  Illyricum  and  Gaul  for  the  space  of 
five  years.  So  powerful,  indeed,  did  he  be- 
come, that  he  was  able  to  use  force  towards  his 
enemies  and  all  those  who  dared  to  oppose 
him.  Cato,  at  his  command,  was  put  under 
arrest ;  and  Bibulus,  his  colleague  in  the  con- 
Hiilship,  was  driven  out  of  the  Forum  by  the 
people ;  his  fasces  were  broken,  his  lictors  beat- 
en, and  he  himself  forced  to  lie  a  knur  time 
concealed  in  order  to  save  his  life.  The  great 
Lucullus,  who  had  so  gloriously  conqueivd  the 
powerful  Mithridate,  was  compelled  to  fall  at 
Caesar's  feet  in  a  full  assembly,  and  then  to  re- 
tire from  public-  Imsine-s.  Nor  did  ( 
even  hesitate  to  unite  himself  with  the  infa- 
mous Clodius  in  order  to  ruin  the  great  and 
good  Cicero,  whom,  for  a  frivolous  reason,  he 
caused  to  be  impeached  before  an  assembly  of 
the  people  ;  and  when  this  excellent  man  found 
himself  abandoned  by  all  his  former  friends, 
now  the  creatures  of  Caesar,  he  quitted  Rmne 
by  night,  and  retired  into  Greece.  His  houses, 
both  in  the  city  and  country,  were  immediate- 
ly razed  to  the  ground,  and  his  goods  sold  at 
auction  by  the  common  officers  of  the  law. 

Caesar,  on  going  to  take  possession  of  the 
government  of  Gallia  Cisalpina,  which,  at  the 
close  of  his  consulship,  he  chose  for  himself, 


JULIUS   C^SAR.  289 

His  Conquests. 

set  out  at  the  head  <>f  an  immeii-o  army,  with 
the  intention  ot'  conquering  the  whole  country, 
in  hopes  that  he  should  thus  he  furni.-hod  with 
great  tivasuros.  The  vast  number  of  battles 
which  lie  fought  during  this  absence  of  ten 

-  In. in  Hume,  and  the  splendid  vietories 
which  lie  achieved,  raised  him  to  the  highest 
rank  among  the  captains  of  the  Roman  people. 
rj'he  Helvetians,  after  the  most  ubstinaio  li-ht- 

W&K  driven  by  him  into  their  iimnntains; 
the  Belgians  were  subjected  to  his  authority. 
In  -hurt,  he  conquered  all  Gaul,  and  then,  C 
ing  the  >oa,  set  uj)  his  standard  in  Great  JJrit- 
ain.  Kight  hundred  cities  are  said  to  have 
yielded  either  to  the  force,  or  terror,  of  his 
linn*.  Three  hundred  different  nations  sub- 
mitted to  his  laws;  and  of  three  million^  of 
men  whom  he  defeated  in  battle,  one  million 
slain  and  another  million  taken  prisoners. 
But  with  so  many  brilliant  achievements,  he 
was  guilty  of  a  thousand  disgraceful  acts.  His 
immoderate  ambition  and  insatiable  de>ire  of 
acquiring  riches,  cau>ed  him  to  set  a  price 
upon  every  thing  which  could  bring  him  mon- 
ey. Places,  governments,  wars,  alliances,  all 
had  their  value  in  gold  ;  and  the  very  temples 
of  the  gods,  and  the  lands  of  the  Roman  allies, 
were  compelled  to  pour  their  treasures  at  his 

19 


290  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Hto  Love  of  Money— He  acquires  Frienda. 

feet.  But  the  splendor  of  his  victories,  and  the 
gratitude  and  l"ve  <>f  his  well-paid  countrymen, 
united  to  give  to  his  rohheries  the  name  of 
great  political  actions;  and  tin  !iem- 

ielree    were   thanked   in  solemn   tun n  for  the 
sacrileges  which  lie  had  successfully  cdiin.' 
against  them. 

It  is  not  strange  that  Cavar  should  love 
money,  for.  certainly.  n«»  man  better  under- 
stood its  value.  "With  it.  lie,  no  douht,  pur- 
cha-ed  a  gVBttl  deal  <•!'  that  stmn^  aitachinent 
which  his  s«»ldit-rs  tr-titii-d  ii.r  him,  and  to 
which  he  was  chietly  indchu-d  fur  ]\\<  aztra^ 
di nary  success.  Their  1'm-tiines  depended  nj...n 
his  own,  ami  he  ,:lcd  tu  reward  them 

:-uii-ly  frum  the   trea-ures  whirh  they  ena- 
hlcd    him   to  accumulate.     AVith   an 
iipun  tlu-  future,  he  assigned   lands  and  posees- 
-  tu  thu>e  who  served  him  with  m«..t  lidel- 

lle  paid  the  dehts  uf  \n<  j.rincipal  offl 
and  can-cd  all  tu  I'e-anl  him  as  an  ho- 
ard,   intrusted   with    riches  ever  at    their  com- 
mand, while  faithful   and   valorous   in   the 
charge   uf  their  duties.      I  Jut    his  soldiers  and 
otliceis    were   not   the   sole    recipients   uf  his 
boundless  wealth.     The  Senate  it-  CD  his 

pay.  and  the  chief  offices  in  the  commonwealth 
were  the  purchased  possessions  of  his  creatures. 


,1  r  LI  rs  C.ESAR.  291 

Jealonsy  of  Pompey— Pompey  made  Consul 

The  growing  influence  of  Ccesar  could  nut 
fail  t«  attract  tin-  attention  of  \\\<  rival  Pompey, 
who  blushed  at  the  thought  that  he  had  been 
outdone  by  a  man  to  whom  he  had  ever  MIJ»- 
posed  him-elf  Miperior.  Crassus,  who  had  al- 
held  the  balance  of  power  in  his  own 
hands,  was  no  longer  living ;  and  now  it  was 

nt  that  a  struggle  for  supremacy  nm-t 
soon  ensue  between  these  two  leaders  of  the 
Roman  people.  Though  still  at  the  head  of 
his  government  in  Gaul,  Caesar  was  able  to 
carry  on  his  operations  in  the  centre  uf  Rome. 

candidates  for   office    came  openly   with 
money  in  their  hands  to  purchase,  but 
M  beaten  back  by  force  and  vi<>! 
So  dreadful  were  these  disputes,  on  some  oc- 

;is,  that  no  elections  could  be  held,  and 
U"ine  was  actually,  at  one  time,  during  < 
months,  deprived  <»t'  magistrates.  Pompey, 
doubtless,  did  his  share  in  causing  this  c«  in  fu- 
sion; and  his  friends  took  the  opportunity  to 
declare  that  such  a  state  of  things  demanded 
the  immediate  creation  of  a  Dictator,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  shrewdly  named  him  for  the 
office.  The  wi>e  and  good  Cato,  fearing  for 
the  safety  of  the  Republic,  declaimed  loudly 
against  such  a  course,  and,  at  his  suggestion, 
Pompey  was  simply  clothed  with  the  power  of 


REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 


Ctesar  demands  the  Office—  His  Failure. 


sole  consul,  amenable  to  the  people  for  all  his 
actions  on  the  expiration  of  his  ollice. 

lakinir  advantage  of  a  precedent  thus 
established,  demanded,  in  his  turn,  to  he  made 
sole  consul,  and  likewise  the  continual  i'-n  of 
his  governments  ahroad.  But  his  proposition 
\vu-  opposed  by  the  adherents  of  I^mpey,  on 
the  Around  that  custom  required  a  candidate 
for  the  consulship  to  be  present,  in  person,  at 
JJume  during  the  time  of  an  flection.  The 
oflice  wa-  con-eijiieiitly  conferred  on  Marcellus 
and  Lentuln-,  t\vo  of  the  most  prominent  of 
I'ompevV  frit-lids.  Pompey  himself  made  no 
oj.cn  upp.,>i;inn  to  Cflesar;  but,  as  he  bewail  to 
feel  >oi  IK-  dread  of  the  fortune  and  valor  of  this 
•rival  commander,  hi-  tried,  in  a  secret  manner, 
to  deprive  him  of  hi-  ir«.vernmrnt  of  (iaul. 

were   coiic-erti-d   with    the   Sena' 
some  one  as  his  successor,  and  i 
]>"s-ihle  was  doiu'  to  brin^  it  about. 
In    tlu»    mean,  time,  Ca-ar.   nut   iirnd'ant    of 
what    wa>    «r«'inir  on   at  home,  wrote  several 
time-  to  the  Senate,  ivcpiirin.ir  that  they  -hould 
either  continue  him  in  his  government,  or  allow 
him  to  be  a  candidate   lor  the  cunsulate,  nut- 
hi>  absence  from  IJome.     But  his 
^iicceediuir  in  uppo>in«j  his  demands, 
he  ]>a>>ed   the  Alps  at  the   head   of  one  of  his 


JULIUS   C.ESAR.  293 

He  threatens  Rome— Is  declared  an  Enemy. 

trust v  legions,  and  halted  at  Ravenna.     From 
this  place  he  sent  to  the  Senate  one  of  his  lieu- 
tenants, intrusted  with  letters,  in  which,  rela- 
:n  a  lofty  man ner  all  his  exploits,  he  de- 
clared that,  if  justict  <»t  done  him,  he 
would,  in  a  t-                      r  Rome,  for  the  pur- 
ging his  private  injuries,  as  well 
as  those  suffered  by  his  country. 

This  threat  roused  the  whole  Senate  against 
him:  and.  appointing  Lucius  I)..mitius  hi- 

•:•   in  (iaul,  they  pa-ed   a  decree  that  he 

should  l»e  prosecuted  as  an  enemy  of  the  com- 

monw.-altli.      Mark   Antony,  Curio,  and  Cas- 

hy  virtue  of  their  office  as  Tribunes,  op- 

i  earnestly  this  decree;  but  being  driven 

forcibly  out  of  the   Senate,  they  went  in  all 

ha-  ..  to  the  camp  of  Caesar. 

Thus,  again,  the  commonwealth  was  divided 
against  itr-elf,  through  the  ambition  of  two  men, 
who  sought  to  subserve  their  own  private  in- 
»y  pretending  to  take  up  arms  in  de- 
fence of  the  laws  and  liberty.  It  is  true  that 
Pompey  had  upon  his  side  a  greater  appear- 
ance of  justice,  and  that  he  was  commissioned 
by  the  authorities  of  Rome  to  oppose  Caesar  in 
their  behalf;  but  Caesar  had  upon  his  side  the 
affections  of  the  people,  and  'he  was,  moreover, 
most  powerful  and  most  secure.  It  was,  how- 


294:  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

C«e.«ar  marches  against  Rome. 

ever,  with  great  reluctance  that  he  resolved 
to  march  against  his  fallow-countrymen ;  and 
when  lie  reached  the  river  Rubicon,  which  di- 
vided his  own  government  from  the  rest  of 
Italy,  he  hesitated  for  >ome  time,  in  view  of 
the  ruin  which  must  certainly  fall  upon  Rome 
if  he  passed  over  the  little  stream.  "If  I  defer 
any  longer  the  en -—ing  of  this  river,"  said  he 
to  those  about  him.  ul  am  undone;  and  if  I 
do  cross  it,  how  many  people  shall  I  make 
\vivti-hed  !"  Hut  it  being,  after  all,  more  diffi- 
cult for  him  to  endure  his  own  injuries  unre- 
al than  to  see  his  country  all  in  devia- 
tion, he  plunged  into  the  river  at  the  head  of 
troopt,  and  ending  it,  exclaimed — "It  is 

done :  the  die  La  c 

"With  the  rapidity  which  always  character- 
ized the  movements  of  this  wonderful  soldier, 
he  marched  directly  to  Rimini,  and  made 
himself  master  of  the  place.  The  news  of 
this  achievement  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  upon 
Home.  Already  they  fancied  that,  his  victo- 
rious legion-  were  at  their  very  gates;  and 
J'ompey,  the  two  consuls,  and  a  large  number 
of  senators,  finding  themselves  entirely  without 
troops,  lied  in  terror  from  the  city,  leaving 
their  wives  and  children  to  the  mercy  of  their 
enemy.  Onward  came  the  victorious  general. 


,1  r  i.rrs   r  J-:SAR.  295 

His  Pursuit  of  Pompey. 

The  gates  of  the  defenceless  city  opened  to 
receive  him,  and  its  immense  treasures  were 
seized,  and  divided  among  his  faithful  follow- 
ers. Then  began  his  terrible  pursuit  of  Pom- 
pey,  whom  he  seemed  determined  t«>  limit,  with 
all  his  adherents,  from  every  lurking-place  upon 
the  earth.  Jle  chased  him  from  one  part  of 
Italy  to  another:  subjected,  within  t\vo  months, 
rvrrv  inch  of  its  territory  to  his  authority;  then 
following  his  rival  into  (treeee.  finally  met  him, 
surrounded  by  an  immense  army  on  the  plains 
of  I'haisalia,  where,  tailing  upon  his  troops 
with  a  terrible  slaughter,  and  even  sacking  his 
camp,  he  c« impelled  him  to  fly  for  his  life,  on 
foot,  and  in  a  pitiful  di>gui-e.  And  at  night, 
the  great  Fompey,  who,  for  thirty-four  years, 
had  been  u>ed  to  conquer  and  carry  all  before 
him,  was  obliged  to  sleep  in  the  miserable 
cabin  of  a  fi-herman. 

AVandering  from  one  place  to  another,  he 
was  finally  induced  to  proceed  to  Egypt,  where 
he  was  promised  a  favorable  reception  from 
the  young  Ptolemy,  whose  father  had  received 
benefits  at  his  hands.  But  the  base  ministers 
of  this  youthful  king,  hearing  of  his  approach, 
determined  to  sei/.e  and  put  him  to  death.  On 
his  arrival,  a  boat  was  sent  from  the  shore  to 
bring  him  from  the  vessel.  Embracing  his 


296  EEPUBLIC  OF  KOME. 

Death  of  Pompey— Csesar  Consul. 

wife  and  son,  who  had  accompanied  him,  he 
stepped  into  it,  though  not  without  some  fear 
of  treachery;  and,  before  reaching  the  land, 
he  was  shamefully  murdered,  and  his  headless 
body  was  left  naked  upon  the  beach. 

The  death  of  Pompey  completed  the  fall  of 
all  his  party,  and  ( ';i-sar  thus  became  the  mas- 
ter of  the  world.  On  his  return  to  Rome,  he 
was  appointed,  by  a  decree  of  the  Senate,  con- 
sul for  ten  years,  and  perpetual  Dictator.  The 
name  of  /////"  r>it<>i-  was  given  to  him,  together 
with  the  august  title  of  F<i.tlu-r  nf  Ins  Country' 
and  his  person  was  declared  sacred  and  invio- 
lable. Kvery  honor  and  dignity,  in  fact,  were 
heaped  upon  him,  so  that  nothing  but  the  title 
\\as  wanting  to  make  him  a  king.  This  he 
would  have  unhesitatingly  assumed,  had  he  not 
kniiwn  the  hatred  in  which  the  Romans  held 
the  name.  15ut  his  assumption  <>f  this  title  was 
precisely  what  his  secret  enemies  desired;  and 
the  senators  who  had  conferred  s«»  many  honors 
on  him,  sought  thereby  only  to  render  him 
odious,  in  order  that  they  might  the  sooner 
bring  about  his  ruin.  He  was  even  urged  to 
place  upon  his  head  the  crown;  and  when  he 
was  preparing  himself  to  set  out  upon  an  expe- 
dition against  the  Parthians,  the  books  of  the 
Sibyls  were  produced  to  prove  to  him  and  to 


JULIUS  C^SAR.  297 

Ctesar  arged  to  take  the  Crown. 

the  people  that  the  Parthians  could  never  be 
vanquished,  unless  the  Romans  had  a  king  for 
their  general. 

So  zealous  were  the  friends  and  flatterers  of 
.r  in  the  prosecution  of  this  matter,  that  a 
day  was  lixed  upon  on  which  it  should  be  set- 
tled by  a  decree  of  the  Senate;  and  it  was  pro- 
posed that  in  Rome,  and  throughout  all  Italy, 
he  should  be  styled  Dictator,  but  that  he  slum  Id 
be  Acknowledged  a  king,  and  take  upon  him- 
self that  title,  in  respect  of  all  foreign  nations 
subject  to  the  K«»mau  empire. 

L-'i-Min  this  moment  it  was  agreed,  in  private 
cal»als,  that  the  liberty  of  Rome  could  be  pre- 
served only  by  the  death  of  the  Dictator. 
Marcus  Junius  Brutus,  whom  Csesar  loved  as 
his  own  son,  and  whom  he  held  in  the  tender- 
est  friendship,  was  at  the  head  of  this  conspir- 
acy. With  him  were  Cassius,  a  zealous  repub- 
lican, and  (1a<ca,  and  IIHUV  than  ,-ixty  senators. 
The  day  upon  which  the  Senate  was  to  meet 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  Caesar  the  title  of 
king,  was  the  ides  of  March,  and  upon  this  day 
the  conspirators  determined  to  carry  their  plot 
into  execution.  A  soothsayer  had  warned 
Caesar  to  beware  the  ides  of  March ;  and  his 
wife,  disturbed  by  a  frightful  dream,  besought 
him  with  tears  not  to  go  to  the  Senate-house. 


298  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Death  of  Caesar. 

To  please  her,  he  called  his  friend  Mark  An- 
tony, and  told  him  to  dismiss  the  Senate;  but 
Decimus  Brutus,  one  of  the  conspirators,  suc- 
ceeded in  overcoming  his  apprehensions,  and 
he  proceeded  to  the  capitol.  On  hi.s  way 
thither,  a  note  was  placed  in  his  hands,  giving 
him  an  account  of  the  conspiracy ;  but  being 
crowded  on  every  side,  he  put  it  by  without 
reading  it. 

Srarcvly  had  lie  entered  the  capitol,  when 
all  the  conspirators  came  ar<>uml  him,  as  if  to 
(I  •  him  honor.  According  to  an  agreement 
among  tlii'm,  Attilius  C'imber,  one  of  their 
number,  i'ell  down  at  his  feet  to  demand  the 
pardon  of  hi-  In-other,  who  was  banished. 
1  .r  refusing  it.  the  conspirator  laid  hold  of 
the  bottom  of  hi<  mho,  and  pulled  it  so  hard  as 
to  make  him  bow  his  head.  Ca>ea  then  drew 
his  dagger,  and  pierced  the  Dictator  in  the 
•ursed  Ca>ca,  what  doest  thou?" 
he  exclaimed,  as  he  seized  the  assassin  and 
dashed  him  to  the  ground.  uDie,  tyrant!" 
shouted  all  the  conspirators,  now  rushing  upon 
him  from  every  side.  With  all  the  power 
which  he  possessed,  he  at  once  defended  him- 
self against  his  numerous  foes,  until  perceiving 
among  them  his  beloved  j'rutus,  he  exclaimed 
— u  And  thou,  too,  my  son!"  and  then,  cover- 


JULlt'S     CjiSAR.  299 

Its  Consequences. 

ing  his  face  with  his  mantle,  fell,  pierced  with 
twenty-three  wounds,  at  the  foot  of  Pompey's 
statue. 

The  bloody  work  was  no  sooner  ended,  than 
the  conspirators  rushed  into  the  Senate-cham- 
ber, and  exhorted  the  senators  to  give  their 
approval  to  an  act  thai  had  restored  liberty  to 
their  country.  But  the  senators,  confounded 
by  the  dreadful  tragedy,  fled  to  their  hou-r-. 
not  knowing  what  they  had  to  hope  or  fear. 
Then,  still  holding  their  bloody  dagger- 
their  hands,  the  conspirators  flew  into  the 
ud  ]> roe  1  aimed  that  they  had  killed 
the  king  of  Rome,  and  the  tyrant  of  their  coun- 
try. They  placed  before  them  a  herald,  who, 
on  the  point  of  a  javelin,  carried  a  hat  ;i>  a 
signal  of  liberty;  and  thus  marching  along,  ex- 
horted the  people  to  lend  their  aid  in  restoring 
the  commonwealth.  But  the  people  not  ap- 
ing by  their  conduct  to  favor  what  had 
been  done,  they  retired  to  the  capitol,  grieved 
that  the  death  of  a  usurper  was  about  to  bring 
fresh  calamities  upon  the  commonwealth. 

Antony,  whom  Caesar  had  made  consul,  hid 
himself  when  he  first  heard  of  his  protector's 
fate  ;  but  on  learning  the  disposition  of  the 
people,  he  resolved  to  revenge  his  death ;  and 
causing  Caesar's  papers  and  money  to  be  car- 


300  KEPUBLIC   OF  KOME. 

Mark  Antony— Caoear's  Will. 

ried  to  his  own  house,  he  summoned  the  Sen- 
ate, in  order  that  they  might  determine  wheth- 
er Caesar  had  been  a  usurper  or  a  lawful  ma- 
gistrate, and  whether  those  that  killed  him  de- 
served to  be  rewarded  or  punished. 

After  a  great  deal  of  discussion,  conducted 
with  abundance  of  caution,  it  was  finally  agreed 
that  n<>  one  should  be  prosecuted  for  Cesar's 
death,  and  that  all  the  ordinances  which  he 
had  made  should  continue  in  full  force.  An- 
tony \va>  indignant  at  this  decision  of  the 
Senate,  but,  dissembling  his  feelings,  he  de- 
termined that  the  conspirators  should  not  go 
unpunished,  lie  'had  ( 'av-ar's  will  in  his  pos- 
<>n;  and  lie  knew  full  well,  that  when  it 
should  be  read  in  the  hearing  «>f  the  people, 
they  would  rise  in  anger  against  his  murderers. 
Alter  a  great  deal  of  difficulty,  he  obtained 
the  permi>sion  of  the  Senate  to  read  it  at  Ca> 
sai-V  funeral,  at  which  a  vast  concourse  of  the 
citizens  were  present.  Kvery  one  listened  in- 
tently to  the  words  of  the  great  man,  who  had 
so  endeared  himself  to  them  by  his  muni  li- 
cence when  alive  ;  and  on  finding  that  he  had 
not  forgotten  to  leave  them  something  at  his 
death,  they  were  filled  with  gratitude  and 
moved  to  tears.  To  every  citizen  he  gave  the 
sum  of  seventy-five  Attic  drachmas,  and,  more- 


JULIUS  C^SAR.  301 

Antony's  Funeral  Oration— Terror  of  the  Conspirators. 

over,  left  his  magnificent  gardens  to  the  people. 
Kvi-n  to  some  of  the  principal  conspirators  he 
had  bequeathed  the  most  splendid  presents, 
and  had  appointed  them  guardians  to  his 
nephew  Octavius,  whom  he  adopted  as  his  son 
and  heir. 

But  it  was  during  the  delivery  of  his  funeral 
oration,  that  Antony  aroused  their  feelings 
most.  When  he  gave  them  a  narrative  of  Cse- 
sar's  victories,  and  enumerated  his  many  vir- 
tues, they  made  the  Forum  ring  with  their 
hearty  plaudits.  But  when  he  pointed  to  his 
corpse,  and  told  them  how  he  died,  they 
;ied,  and  groaned,  and  muttered  their  re- 
sentment. And  then,  when  he  held  up  Csesar's 
bloody  robe,  and  showed  them  the  many  rents 
made  in  it  by  the  daggers  of  his  foes,  their  rage 
overleaped  all  bounds.  They  screamed  for 
vengeance,  and  some  of  them,  flying  to  the 
houses  of  the  conspirators,  swore  that  they 
would,  with  fire  and  sword,  sacrifice  them  to 
Csesar's  ghost.  In  danger  of  losing  their  lives, 
the  conspirators  left  the  city  as  quietly  and 
speedily  as  possible. 

By  insensible  degrees,  Antony  advanced  to- 
wards the  sovereign  power ;  and  the  authority 
of  the  government  seemed  to  be  wholly  in  his 
hands,  when  young  Octavius,  Caesar's  grand- 


302  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

Octavius  returns  to  Home — Antony's  Jealousy. 

nephew,  arrived  in  Rome  to  take  possession  of 
his  inheritance.  This  young  man  had  been 
sent  by  his  uncle  to  Apollonia,  a  city  on  the 
coast  of  Epirus,  to  complete  his  studies ;  and, 
at  the  time  of  Csesar's  death,  he  was  scarcely 
eighteen  years  of  age.  The  sad  event  afflicted 
him  sorely,  and  he  resolved  to  revenge  it,  and 
to  maintain  the  honor  of  his  adoption  at  the 
peril  uf  his  life.  Arriving  at  Drundusium,  the 
usual  place  of  entrance  and  departure  for  trav- 
ellers to  and  from  Greece  and  Asia,  he  as- 
sumed the  name  of  Caesar,  was  introduced  with 
much  formality  into  the  town,  and  made  the 
master  of  it.  Marching  boldly  to  Rome,  he 

joined  by  large  numbers  of  his  ad< 
father's    friend-,    frerdmr!i.    and     even    >!, 
Money  and  every  thing  was  poured   in   upon 
him  ;  and,  when  he  came    near  the  city,  the 
magistrates,  officers  of  the  army,  and  people 
thronged   the  gates  to  meet  him.     Every  one 
came  out  to  do  him  honor,  except  the  ambi- 
tious Antony,  Avho  would  not  so  much  as  send 
the  least  of  his  servants  to  compliment  him  in 
his  name. 

After  young  Octavius  had  caused  his  adop- 
tion to  be  confirmed  in  the  most  solemn  man- 
ner, he  went  to  Antony,  beirired  hi-  friendship, 
and  demanded  the  inheritance  left  to  him  by 


JULIUS   CJESAR.  303 

Octavius  in  Favor. 

\  the  legacies  mentioned 

in  his  will.     Antony,  at  fiivi.  d  to  ac- 

kn-'wledge  his  claims,  but  afterwards  changed 

••mcanor,  when  he  found  the  influence  of 

iu-  continually  increasing,  and  his  own 

nably  diminishing.     For  this  ine: 
influence,  Octavin-  was  in  a  great  measure 
indebted  t<»  the  large  sacriiice  which  he  made 
of  his  personal  property,  in  order  to  pay  his 
uncle's  legacies  to  the  people,  who  unanii: 

clared  in  his  favor,  and  against  Antony. 
The  murder  <  'iesar,  supported  by  the 

>y  hirgr  arn lie-,  were 

much  in  the  way  of  the  ambitious  Antony; 
and  he  w«»uld  have  gladly  united  with  the 
great  man's  nephew  in  destroying  them,  had 
he  not  feared  that  Octaviu-  w..uld  grasp  at  the 
reign  power.  This  power  being  the  only 
mark  at  which  he  himself  aimed,  Octavius  be- 
came to  him  no  less  odious  than  Brutus  or 
Cassius.  But  the  Senate  hating  them  both, 
feared  the  haughty  Antony  more  than  the  mod- 
est Octavius;  and  for  the  sake  of  crushing  the 
former  they  were  willing  to  flatter  and  honor 
the  latter.  A  seat  was  given  to  him  in  the 
Senate;  and  he  was  induced  to  join  his  forces 
with  the  consuls  llirtius  and  Pansa  against 
Antony,  who  had  refused  to  comply  with  a  do- 


304  REPUBLIC   OF   ROMK. 

TLe  Senate  opposes  Antony. 

cree  which  required  him  to  remove  his  annv 
from  Gallia  (Jisalpina,  where  he  was  fighting 
with  Decimus  Bn 

By  tliis  movement  of  the  Senate,  Antony 
was  nearly  ruined  ;  hut  he  managed  to  escape 
from  the  legions  of  Pansa  and  (Jclavius,  and 
passed  the  Alps,  in  order  to  join  his  old  friend 
Lepidns,  who  waa  still  in  daid.  and  with  the 
hope  that  lie  might  also  secure  the  aid  of  Plau- 
CMS  and  Asinius  J'ollio,  former  geiu-rals  of  Cae- 
sar, who  were,  all  in  eoniinand  of  numerous  ar- 
Lepidus  n-i'used  at  iiist  to  join  him,  un- 
der pretence  that  he  feared  to  otl'eiid  the  IN-II- 
ate;  but  Antony,  marching  >traight  nj)  to  his 
army,  contriveil  l»y  means  of  hiihes  and  prom- 
ises to  roh  him  of  his  command;  and  after- 
ward- M-cmvd  al>o  the  other  armies. 

In  the  mean  time  the  coii-;;l  1'ansa,  being  at 
the  point  of  death,  sent  for  Octavins,  and, 
earnestly  entreating  him  to  agree  with  Antony, 
] -laced  under  his  authority  t\vo  legions,  which 
had  formerly  been  in  his  command.  The-e  le- 
gions the  Senate  ordered  him  to  disband,  un- 
der pretence  that  the  Republic  had  no  further 
occa-ion  for  them.  But  Octavius,  in  order  that 
he  might  have  the  privilege  of  keeping  them 
on  foot,  offered  him>elf  a<  a  candidate  for  the 
consulship.  Finding,  however,  that  the  Senate 


,J  r  i.i  rs    (\KSAK.  305 

Octavius  consul — The  Conspirators  proscribed. 

were  determined  to  prevent  his  election,  he 
inarched  his  forces  towards  Rome,  when  the 
terrified  senators  not  only  chose  him  consul, 
but  caused  Quintus  JVdius,  one  of  his  relatives, 
to  be  made  his  col  league. 

Immediately  upon  taking  possession  of  the 
consulate,  he  caused  the  impeachment  of  every 
one  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  murder  of 
Caesar,  and  condemned  all  the  conspirators  to 
lose  their  lives  for  not  presenting  themselves 
for  trial.  But  Brutus  and  Cassius,  their  el. 
beinir  at  the  head  of  twenty  legions,  he  con- 
cluded that  it  would  be  impossible  to  destroy 
them  as  long  as  Antony  continued  to  oppose 
him.  Resolving,  therefore,  to  become  recon- 
ciled with  him,  he  induced  his  colleague  to 
propose  to  the  Senate  to  recall  Antony,  on  the 
ground  that  it  would  be  to  the  advantage  of 
the  commonwealth.  To  this  many  of  the  sena- 
tors were  not  at  all  inclined,  but  they  were 
forced  to  yield;  and  the  decrees  against  him 
being  repealed,  Octavius  sent  to  him  a  propo- 
sition, that  they  should  unite  their  forces,  and 
march  against  Brutus  and  Cassius.  Antony 
beginning  to  despair  of  making  himself  sole 
master  of  the  sovereign  power,  determined  to 
share  it  with  Octavius;  and,  in  accordance  with 
an  arrangement  made  by  their  mutual  friends, 
20 


306  REPUBLIC    OF    ROME. 

Octavius  ami  Antony  reconciled— The  Triumviri. 

they  met,  in  company  with  Lepidus,  alone,  in  a 
little  desert  island  formed  by  the  river  Panaro, 
near  Modena.  They  first  embraced  ;  and  then 
all  three  sat  down, with  no  one  to  overhear  the 
agreement  made  between  them  concerning  the 
disposition  of  the  government  of  Rome. 

This  conference  lasted  three  days,  but  the 
details  of  it  are  not  known  to  any  one.  It  is 
said,  however,  that  they  debated  what  form  of 
government  they  should  settle  in  the  common- 
wealth, and  in  what  way  they  should  share 
the  -  ;  p<>wer.  Caesar  agreed  to  abdi- 

cate the  consulate  for  the  rest  of  that  year,  and 
invest  Yentidius,  mio  of  Antony's  lieutenants, 
therewith;  and  Ga?sar,  Lepidus,  and  Antony, 
by  the  title  of  Triumviri,  were  to  possess  the 
sovereign  power  f.«r  live  years.  After  this, 
they  divided  the  provinces,  the  legions,  and 
the  treasures  of  the  commonwealth  between 
them,  as  if  all  the-e  had  been  their  patrimony. 
I'm  as  a  irieat  deal  of  money  was  oeceflUiy  for 
them  to  carry  out  their  plans,  they  resolved  to 
make  themselves  easy  on  this  score  by  the  pro- 
scription of  the  wealthie.-t  and  most  powerful 
citizens  of  Rome.  A  list  of  them  was  drawn 
up,  among  whom  were  Paul  us,  the  brother  of 
Lepidus,  and  Lucius  Ca?sar,  the  uncle  of  Anto- 
ny, and  Cicero,  the  tried  friend  of  young  Oc- 


JULIUS  CJSSAR.  307 

The  end  of  the  Commonwealth. 

tavius.  Tliree  hundred  senators,  and  more 
than  two  thousand  knights,  were  involved  in 
this  horrible  proscription. 

Then  began  the  war  with  the  commonwealth, 
which  now  had  n<>  existence  save  in  the  camp 
of  the  conspirators.  Caesar  and  Antony  went 
together  with  their  legions  into  Macedonia, 
•where  Brutus  and  Cassius  were  endeavoring  t«> 
keep  alive  the  last  spark  of  Roman  liberty. 
The  hostile  armies  met  near  the  town  of  Phi- 
lippi.  For  a  while  nothing  but  skirmishes  took 
place,  in  which  the  conspirators  were  always 
m«»-t  Miccesst'ul.  But  the  day  iinally  arrived 
whereon  the  fortune  and  destiny  of  the  com- 
monwealth were  decided.  It  was  a  furious 
battle.  The  plains  of  Philippi  were  deluged 
with  blood,  and  on  them  were  buried  the  re- 
mains of  liberty,  with  the  bodies  of  Brutus,  of 
and  of  the  chiefs  of  the  conspirators, 
and  the  last  of  the  genuine  Eomans.  From 
this  gory  field  sprang  forth  the  Empire.  Upon 
it,  all  the  friends  of  the  Republic  lay,  and  Octa- 
vius  felt  that  he  could  now  reign  alone.  The 
ruin  of  his  colleague,  Lepidus,  was  easily  ac- 
complished ;  and  then  a  quarrel,  and  finally  a 
fight  near  Actium,  left  Octavius  the  master  of 
the  world. 

For  a  long  time  this  successful  man,  though 


308  REPUBLIC  OF   ROME. 

Honor  paid  to  Octivius. 

indifferent  soldier,  hesitated  whether  he  should 
assume  the  title  of  king,  or  reign  under  some 
other  name.  Finally  he  resolved  to  retain  the 
sovereign  power,  and  to  cause  himself  to  be 
styled  AUGUSTUS  Imperator,  a  title  sometimes 
given  to  victorious  generals,  and  to  which  no 
odium  \vas  yet  attached.  In  the  mean  time 
he  still  allowed  in  Rome  the  offices  of  consul, 
praetor,  sedile,  and  other  republican  magistrates, 
l)ii t  made  them  all  subservient  to  his  private 
i-iidv  and  interests.  During  his  reign,  peace 
and  pli-nty  flourished  anew,  and  the  tempK-  «»t 
.Janus  was  closed  for  the  third  time  since  the 
t'oin nlation  of  Rome.  He  adorned  the  city  in 
such  a  manner  that  it  was  truly  said,  that  "  he 
found  it  of  brick,  and  left  it  of  marble.''  The 
ie  erected  altars  to  him,  and,  by  a  decree 
of  the  Senate,  the  month  Sextiles  was,  in  honor 
of  him.  called  A-uyunt.  But  all  that  further  re- 
lates to  him  and  to  his  successors,  will  be  found 
in  the  volume  entitled  Tin:  KMI-IKE  OF  KOMI-:. 


PART  II, 


QUESTIONS. 

I.— THE  WAR  WITH  PORSENNA. 

Page  15.  Who,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Republic, 
were  elected  Consuls ?  Who  was  king?  What  caused  the 
expulsion  of  Tnrquinins  from  Rome?  At  what  place  was 
the  army  encamped  ?  Who  was  leader  in  this  revolution  ? 

10.  What  good  effects  were  the  result  of  this  change? 
T«»  "h;it  place  did  T;ir<iuinius  withdraw?  In  what  manner 
did  IK-  here  employ  himself?  Relate  the  manner  in  which 
the  sons  of  Brutus  were  sacrificed.  What  of  Goliath. 

17.  Who  was  appointed  Consul  in  his  stead?    Why  was 
the  loss  of  Brutus  so  grievous  ?    What  effect  had  it  upon 
the  people?     Why  did  they  suspect  Publius?    What  place 
had  l>e  chosen  for  his  residence?    Why  was  it  offen.- 

the  Unmans? 

18.  What  was  the  course  pursued  by  Publius  ?    Why  did 
he  lower  the  fasces?    Give  some  account  of  his  speed)  ' 

I'.'.  To  what  place  did  he  propose  to  remove  his  duelling  ? 

20.  What  ciVr-  t  had  this  upon  the  populace?     Hov. 

his  promises  fulfil  led  .'  What  name  was  bestowed  on  him  ? 
Who  was  ,  ]«  ted  Consul  in  place  of  Brutus,  and  what  fol- 
lowed ?  Who  filled  his  place  ? 

21.  (live  an  account  of  an  incident  that  showed  the  self- 
-ion  of  Horatius. 

22.  In  what  state  were  the  affairs  at  Rome  during  these 
changes  ?    What  actuated  the  Patricians  to  show  kindness 
to  the  poorer  classes  .'     How  was  Tarquinius  employed  ? 

23.  Who  was  Porsenna,  and  why  did  he  engage  with  Tar- 


310  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

quinius  ?    What  preparations  did  he  make  for  war  ?    How 
did  they  affect  the  Romans  ? 

24.  Describe  the  effect  of  this  panic  on  Rome.     What  was 
done  by  the  enemy  ? 

25.  What  by  the  Senate  ?    What  by  Valerius  ? 

26.  What  was  the  conduct  of  Valerius  at  the  bridge? 
Describe  the  heroic  act  of  Horatius  Codes. 

27.  The  attack  of  the  troops.     The  fall  of  the  bridge. 

28.  Effect  of  the  intrepidity  of  Cocles  on  the  spectators. 

29.  How  was  Porsennu  affected  .'      l.k-seribe  the  end  of  this 
adventure.     How  was  Codes  rewarded? 

30.  Did  this  heroic  action  end  the  war  ?     How  did  Por- 
senna  procvrd  a.^ain.-t  the  city  of  Rome?    What  is  said  of 
the  suffering  of  the  dti/.ens  ? 

31.  What  ivMilution  was  formed  by  three  hundred  young 
men?     What  did  Mucius  do  .'     Win-re  did  he  protvt-d  .' 

32.  Give  an  account  of  his  conduct  in  the  king's  tent  and 
speech  to  the  king. 

33.  How  did  he  K-havo  at  the  burning  pile?     How  did 
this  ronduet  all'ert  iW.-rnjia  ' 

•  '.\.  In  \\liii;  i.ianin.-r  did  Mucius  disclose  the  plot  of  the 
300  ?  Why  did  1'orsenna  re.sulve  on  peace  ? 

35.  On  what  terms  was  peace  concluded  ?    What  was  done 
by  Clu-lia  ?     What  the  demand  of  Porsenna? 

36.  How  did  this  affair  md  ?     How  \\viv  Mudus  and  Cloe- 
Jia  rewarded  t     Why  was  Mucius  ealk-d  Sc;«-vola? 

37.  In  what  other  expedition  did  i'orsnma  m-age  ?     How 
did  this  cement  the.  friendship  between  him  and  the  Ro- 
mans? 

II.— TUP]  AVAR  AVITH  THE  LATINS. 

Page  41.  Who,  at  this  time,  were  the  Roman  Consuls  ? 
What  enemies  annoyed  Rome? 

•\'l.  Did  all  the  Sabines  engage  in  these  aggressions? 
What  was  done  by  Attus  Clausus  ?  How  many  accompanied 
him  to  Rome  ?  How  were  they  rewarded? 


QUESTIONS.  311 

undertaken  by  Octavius  Mamilius  ?  How 
were  the  Romans  aflfected  by  the  news?  What  domestic 
troubles  had  th> 

44.  What  oppressions  had  the  Plebeians  to  endure  ?  How 
many  I^atiii  cities  prepared  to  marcli  against  Rome? 

-1 ").  What  seemed  inevitable  ?  Why  did  the  Romans  rind 
it  difficult  to  raise  troops?  What  did  the  people  require  of' 
theSenat.-?  W-  •: 

46.  What  arguments  were  used  by  Marcus  Valerius  for 
abolishing  the  debts  of  the  Plebeians? 

47.  Who  ruse  in  the  opposition,  and  how? 

48.  What  effect  had  the  speech  of  Claudius  ?    What  ren- 
dered the  situation  of  the  Senate  embarrassing  ?     What  did 
they  determine  upon  ? 

4'.'.  What  How  ivivived  by  the  peo- 

ple?   What  powers  were  to  be  intru-t.-d  to  tins  ruler  ? 

50.  What  name  given  to  him?  How  was  the  power  of 
this  magistrate  n-tii.-t.-d  '  What  abilities  were  required  ? 

ol.   Who  were  th.-  two  Consul.-,  and  what  their  charac- 
proposed  by  the  Senate  ?    What  noble  con- 
test originated  in  this  proposal? 

;>'2.  In  what  manner  was  it  terminated  ?  How. did  Lartius 
manage  so  as  to  make  an  impression  of  mt>re  than  kingly 
power  .'  With  what  . 

53.  In  what  manner  did  Lnrtius  divide  and  enroll  the  cit- 
'     To  whom  give  command  of  the  army  ?     Huw  prove 
himself  a  wise  general  and  good  man  .'     What  did  he  i- 

o4.  Why  did  Lartius  resign  his  authority  ?     Whom  did  he 
name  Consuls?     What  decree  was  issued  by  the  Sena 
specting  debts?    What  with  regard  to  married  women? 
How  did  the  women  act  ? 

55.  Why  was  a  second  Dictator  chosen?     Who  was  he? 
What  did  he  do  ?    What  is  said  of  the  hostile  armies  ? 

56.  What  commanders  appeared  in  the  army  of  the  La- 
tins ?     What  was  the  age  of  King  Tarquinius  ?     Describe  the 
army  of  the  Romans.     What  excited  them  to  effort  ? 


312  REPUBLIC   OF  ROME. 

57.  Describe  the  battle.    What  was  the  conduct  of  Tar- 
quinius  and  his  sons  ? 

58.  Describe  the  death  of  Valerius.    How  did  Aulus  act? 

59.  Describe  the  death  of  Mamilius.     Also  of  Herminius. 
Fate    of   Sexttis    Tarquinius.     Who  gained  the  victory? 
What  the  number  of  the  slain  ? 

60.  What  prisoners  and  spoils  were  taken  by  the  Romans  ? 
What  wonderful  incident  is  related  of  two  horsemen  in  this 
battle? 

61.  What  further  account  of  their  appearance  in  the  Fo- 
rum ?     What  belief  obtained  among  the  people  ?    How  were 
Castor  and  Pollux  honored  ?    How  was  Anlus  honored  ? 

62.  For  what  purpose  were  ambassadors  sent  from  the 
Latins  to  Rome  ?    How  did  these  ambassadors  act  ?    Upon 
what  condition  was  peace  granted  them  ?    How  long  had 
Rome  stni;_'L.--led  with  Tarquinius? 

63.  What  was  his  end  .' 

III.— Till-:  PATRICIANS  AND  PLEBEIANS. 

Page^l.  What  lesson  had  the  Patricians  learned?     Had 
the  Plebeians  been  benefited  by  the  war? 

68.  Whafe  arguments  did  they  urge  for  the  payment  <>f 
their  debts  ?     Were  they  listened  to  .'     What  was  th-- 

of  this  treatment  ?    What  two  men  were  elected  Consuls  ? 
What  was  the  difference  in  their  characters  ? 

69.  What  were  their  opinions  respecting  the  debtor  and 
creditor  ?     llo\v  were  the  two  Consuls  regarded  by  th 

pie  ?     What  was  the  condition  of  the  poor  ?     What  the  con- 
sequence of  their  sufferings  ? 

70.  Describe  the  condition  of  the  old  centurion.     In  what 
manner  had  he  been  thus  reduced? 

71 .  I  low  had  his  creditors  treated  him  ?    What  effect  had 
this  recital  upon  the  people?     Had  others  been  so  used? 
What  representations  did  they  make  to  the  Consuls  ?    What 
demand  ? 

Ti'.  What  did  the  people  obtain  from  the  Senate  ?    What 


QUESTIONS.  313 

strange  incident  arrested  the  tumult  ?    What  message  was 
delivered  by  the  horseman  ? 

73.  How  \\;i>  the  intelligence  received  ?    What  effect  had 
it  on  the  multitude  ?    What  did  they  say  ?     Whom  did  the 
Senate  entreat  to  appease  the  people  .' 

74.  In  what  manner  did  Servilius  proceed  ?    What  prom- 
ise ?     With  what  effect  ?     Why  did  lie  delay  the  hattle  ? 

75.  How  did  the  Roman  soldiers  act  in  the  midst  of  ill- 
tivatiiu-nt  .'     What  of  the  Volscians  ?    Did  the  Plebeians 
obtain  relief  after  their  victory  ?     Why  not  ? 

HIAV  did  S,  rvilins  lose  favor  with  both  parties?  In 
what  manner  did  the  people  proovd  to  protect  themselves  ? 
What  •  •ii.-mi.-s  thivateii'-d  at  this  time  to  attack  the  city? 

77.  Ho\v  did  the  people  treat  the  demand  of  the  S.-nale 
and  t  '<  >n>uls  .'    Who  were  the  next  Consuls  ?    Did  the  change 
produce  confidence  in  the  people?     For  what  pnrp< 

they  hold  nightly  meeting-:  '     Wh.-r.-  did  tl 

78.  What  decree  was  passed'     With  what  effect?    To 
\\hat  did  t!:  uin  resort  ?    What  person  was  selected 

itor? 

I'.y  what  promise  did  he  render  himself  acceptable  to 
the  people  ?  How  did  this  succeed  ?  What  enemies  came 
against  the  Romans  ?  Who  conquered  ? 

80.  At  the  return  of  the  army,  what  demand  did  Valerius 
make  of  tl  Their  answer.     I  Tow  did  he  address 
t  hem  ?    How  proceed  after  his  speech  ?    How  were  the  peo- 
ple pleased? 

81.  What  orders  did  the  Senate  give  the  Consuls  ?    With 
what  design  ?    Where  were  they  encamped  ?     In  what  man- 
ner did  the  Plebeians  deceive  the   Patricians  ?     Of  what 
place  did  they  take  possession  ? 

82.  What  course  was  pursued  by  the  Patricians  ?    Who 
was  leader  among  the  soldiers  ?    How  did  he  address  the 
Patricians?    What  was  done  by  the  Consuls  and  Patri- 
cians ? 

27 


314  REPUBLIC  OF   ROME. 

IV.— THE  TRIBUNES  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

Page  87.  What  effect  had  the  revolt  of  the  Plebeians  on 
the  city  of  Rome  ?  What  was  done  by  the  Patricians  ? 
What  was  the  name  of  the  hill  of  refuge  ? 

88.  What  was  the  situation  of  affairs  at  Rome  ?    Upon 
what  did  the  Patricians  resolve  ?    How  were  the  commis- 
sioners met  ?     Who  were  at  the  head  of  the  revolters  ?     Who 
conducted  the  embassy  ? 

89.  What  was  the  policy  used  by  the  Plebeians?    What  the 
speech  of  Brutus  ?     How  did  Valerius  begin  the  negotiation  ? 

90.  What  was  the  reply  of  Sicinius  ?    The  address  of  Ju- 
nius  Brutus  to  the  people  ?  to  the  ambassadors  ? 

91.  How  did  he  appeal  to  their  justice  and  humanity? 
What  of  T.  Largius  ?    Of  Sicinius  ? 

92.  Who  was  Menenius  ?    How  did  he  try  to  soften  the 
people  ?    Give  an  account  of  his  fable. 

93.  What  was  its  effect  ?     What  did  Menenius  propose  ? 

94.  What  pledge   was  demanded  by  Brutus  ?     In  what 
manner  did  the  Senate  decide  ?    Who  were  the  first  Tribunes 
of  the  People  ? 

95.  To  what  form  of  government  was  Rome  now  approach- 
ing?   In  what  way  did  the  Tribunes  nullify  the  decrees  of 
the  Senate  ?    What  design  had  these  magistrates  ? 

96.  What  were  the  JKdilcs?     Their  office?     Give  an  ac- 
count of  the  famine  that  occurred.     Who  was  Marcius  Cori- 
olanus  ?     In  what  manner  did  he  speak  of  the  Plebeians  .' 

97.  What  account  is  given  of  his  mother  ?    What  had  he 
done  for  Rome  ?    Why  disliked  by  the  Plebeians  ?    How  did 
he  return  this  feeling  ? 

98.  What  was  the  effect  of  the  speech  of  Coriolanus? 
How  was  he  treated  by  the  Plebeians  ?    What  orders  were 
given  the  ^Ediles  ? 

W.  Why  could  they  not  effect  this?  What  ensued? 
What  happened  on  the  following  day  ? 

100.  How  did  Brutus  appease  the  people  ?  What  did  Si- 
cinius gay  ?  How  did  the  Tribunes  deal  with  Coriolanus  ? 


QUESTIONS.  ')].*> 

101.  What  was  the  Valerian  Law  ?    Who  endeavored  to 
save  Coriolanus  ?     What  was  counselled  by  the  Consul  Vale- 
rius ?     What  was  his  speech  ? 

102.  To  what  did  the  Senators  urge  Coriolanus  ?     Give 
his  address  to  them. 

103.  Of  what  did  the  Tribunes  accuse  him  ?     How  many 
days  had  lie  allowed  him  to  make  defence  ?     In  what  man- 
ner did  he  do  this  ? 

104.  What  was  done  by  the  Tribune  Decius  ?    To  what 
was  Coriolanus  condemned  ?     Give  an  account  of  the  con- 
duct of  Coriolanus  on  this  occasion. 

105.  Why  did  the  people  rejoice  ?     What  was  the  only 
object  of  Coriolanus  after  leaving  Rome  ?     Why  did  he  offer 
his  services  to  the  Volsci  ?     Why  was  it  dangerous  for  him 
to  venture  on  this  ? 

106.  Into  what  city  did  he  enter  ?    Into  whose  house  ? 
Who  was  Tullus  ?    Why  did  he  take  a  seat  upon  the  hearth  ? 
How  did  he  address  Tullus  ? 

107.  How  did  Tullus  jinswcr  ?     What  plan  was  laid  be- 
tween the  two  ?    How  did  the  Yolscian  Senate  act  upon  this 
plan  .'     What  was  the  reply  of  the  Romans  ? 

108.  What  followed  ?    Who  led  the  troops  ?    What  towns 
did  la-  take  from  the  Romans  ?     What  inflamed  the  Plebe- 
ians ?     How  near  to  Rome  did  Coriolanus  encamp  his  army  ? 
What  effect  had  this  on  the  people  ? 

109.  What  still  more  alarmed  the  Romans  ?     Who  were 
sent  to  Coriolanus  ?     What  did  he  grant  ?     What  threaten  ? 

110.  Who  were  next  sent  ?     His  reply.     What  was  done 
by  Valeria  ?     To  whom  did  she  appeal  ?    What  request  ? 

111.  Why  did  the  mother  of  Coriolanus  hesitate?     In 
what  words  did  Veturia  address  the  Roman  ladies  ? 

112.  What  was  finally  done  by  the  mother  and  wife? 
How  did  Coriolanus  receive  them  ?     His  answer  to  their  re- 
quest. 

1 1 3.  Give  the  appeal  of  his  mother.    How  was  he  affected  ? 

114.  How  did  Veturia  continue  her  supplications  ?     What 


316  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

actions  followed  this  pleading  ?    Describe  the  effect  on  Cori- 
olanus.     What  did  he  do  the  next  day  ? 

115.  How  did  Coriolanus  lose  his  life  ?  How  was  he  hon- 
ored by  the  Volsci  ?  How  by  the  women  of  Rome  ? 

V.— THE  DECEMVIRS. 

Page  121.  Who  was  Sp.  Cassius  Viscellimus  ?  What  his 
designs  ?  How  did  he  seek  to  accomplish  them  ?  What  was 
the  Agrarian  law  ? 

122.  What  caused  his  death?     What  law  was  obtained 
from  the  Senate  ?     What  was  done  by  Genutius  ?    How  was 
the  Agrarian  law  again  silenced  ? 

123.  Describe  the  contest  between  the  Plebeians  and  Pa- 
tricians.    How  high  did  the  power  of  the  Tribunes  rise  ?     In 
what  did  the  I'atrieians  sometimes  advocate  the  cause  of  the 
Plebeians?    What  two  Consuls  made  an  effort  to  furnish 
them  with  lands  ? 

124.  What   did   Kmelius  insist  on?    The  consequence. 
What  did  Fiibius  propose  >     Why  were  the  people  unwilling 
to  accede  ?     How,  at  this  time,  was  law  administered  at 
Rome? 

1  '2~>.  What  was  proposed  by  Terentillus  Arsa  ?  How  were 
the  laws  to  be  proposed?  What  violence  was  perpetrated 
by  Q.  Ceso  ?  Who  applauded  him  ?  How  did  the  Tribunes 
act? 

1 2ii.  In  what  manner  did  Ceso  escape  punishment  ?  What 
was  done  by  his  father  to  pay  the  fine?  Who  was  his 
father  ?  What  war  broke  out  after  this  ?  What  of  the  Ro- 
man Consuls  ? 

127.  Why  was  a  Dictator  necessary?    Who  was  named? 
How  did  tin-  deputation  find  Ciucinnatus  employed  ?    Relate 
what  occurred.     What  of  the  Tribunes  ? 

128.  Why  were  commissioners  sent  to  Athens?     Why 
were  the  Decemvirs  appointed  ?    Who  were  they  ? 

12!».  What  powers  were  conferred  upon  them?  How  did 
Appius  Claudius  render  himself  agreeable  to  the  people? 


QUESTIONS.  317 

How  was  the  government  administered  by  the  Decemvirs  ? 
How  did  they  form  the  code  of  laws  ? 

130.  Into  how  many  tables  was  the  code  arranged  ?   What 
caused  the  election  of  Decemvirs  for  another  year  ?    What 
was  the  policy  of  Appius  ?    To  what  did  he  aspire  ? 

131.  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  new  officers  ?    Of  what 
did  the  citizens  complain  ?     Give  an  account  of  the  tyranny 
of  the  Decemvirs. 

132.  How  were  those  treated  who  complained  ?     Did  this 
authority  cease  at  the  close  of  the  year  ?     What  did  the  ty- 
rants proclaim?     What  armies  were  raised  against  Rome ? 
Whose  aid  was  sought  by  the  Decemvirs  ? 

133.  What  of  Appius  ?    Of  the  Roman  armies  ?    Who  was 
Siccius  Den  tat  us  ?     What  did  he  do  ? 

134.  How  did  Appius  prevent  open  revolt  ?    How  revenge 
himself  on  Siccius  ?    Give  the  story  of  his  assassination. 

135.  Why  did  the  soldiers  suspect  he  had  been  murdered  ? 
What  confirmed  the  suspicion  ? 

136.  In  what  place  did  Appius  administer  justice?    Who 
was  Virginia  ?     What  of  her  appearance  and  condition  ? 

137.  Whom  did  Appius  employ  to  get  her  in  his  posses- 
sion ?     How  did  Claudius  proceed  ?     What  pretend  ? 

138.  What  story  did  he  fabricate  of  Virginia  ?    Who  dis- 
covered the  plot  ?     What  did  Numitorius  claim  ? 

139.  What  was  decreed  by  Appius  ?    How  did  the  assem- 
bly receive  this  ?     Who  was  Icilius  ?    What  did  he  do  ? 

140.  What  language  did  he  use  ?    What  followed  ?    On 
what  condition  was  Virginia  freed  ?    Next  step  of  Appius. 

141.  In  the  mean  time,  what  had  Virginius  done  ?     What 
did  he  do  on  the  next  day  ?    What  moved  the  multitude  ? 
How  did  Appius  provide  for  his  own  safety  ? 

142.  How  did  Claudius  offer  to  prove  Virginia  his  slave? 
What  witnesses  were  brought  by  her  friends  ?    What  was 
done  by  Appius  ? 

143.  Give  the  address^of  Claudius  to  the  assembly— also 
his  decree.     What  was  done  and  said  by  Virginius  ? 


318  KEPUBLIC  OF  HOME. 

144.  What  was  the  proceeding  of  Appius  ?    Request  of 
Virginius  ?     Describe  the  death  of  Virginia. 

145.  Describe  the  flight  of  Virginius.     What  was  done  by 
the  people  ?     What  was  the  effect  of  all  this  on  the  soldiers  ? 

146.  What  of  the  Decemvirs  ?    Who  were  named  Consuls  ? 
What  effect  had  the  death  of  Virginia  on  the  Romans? 
What  became  of  Appius  ?    What  of  Claudius  ? 

VI.— THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  ROME  BY  THE 

GAULS. 

Page  149.  What  effect  on  Rome  had  the  expulsion  of  the 
Decemvirs  ?  Why  did  not  this  state  continue  ?  What  did 
the  people  aspire  to  and  demand  ? 

150.  What  enemies  assailed  Rome  ?    What  of  the  Veien- 
tes?    Of  the  city  of  V 

151.  To  whom  was  the  conduct  of  the  siege  committed? 
With  wh:it  dignity  ?     In  what  manner  did  he  take  the  city  ? 

162.  How  was  Camillus  honored  at  Rome  ?    What  propo- 
sition was  made  by  Sicinius  Dentatus?    How  received? 
What  of  the  vow  of  Camillus,  and  his  forgetfulness  ? 

163.  What  accusation  was  made  against  him  ?    How  did 
Camillus  conduct  in  these  circumstances?    Who  were  the 
Gauls  ? 

154.  What  cities  were  founded  by  them  ?  Of  whom  did 
the  city  of  Clusium  seek  aid  ?  Who  was  Brennus  ?  What 
produced  a  quarrel  between  the  Romans  and  the  Gauls  ? 

165.  What  was  done  by  Brennus  ?  Where  did  the  hostile 
armies  meet  ?  Describe  the  battle. 

156.  How  did  the  flight  of  the  Roman  army  affect  the  city  ? 
How  the  Senate  ?    What  was  their  cowardly  act  ?    What 
was  done  by  some  of  the  old  men  and  priests  ? 

157.  In  what  state  did  the  Gauls  find  Rome  on  entering 
it  ?    What  is  related  of  the  aged  men  ? 

158.  What  caused  their  destruction  ?    How  did  Brennus 
treat  the  city  ?    Why  could  he  not  take  the  capitol  ?    What 
did  he  resolve  ? 


QUESTIONS.  319 

159.  While  waiting,  how  were  the  soldiers  of  Brennus 
employed?    Where  was  Camillas?    What  did  he  undertake  ? 
How  did  he  commence  his  work  ? 

160.  What  did  the  penitent  Romans  entreat  of  him  ?    On 
what  conditions  .did  he  consent  ?    Who  undertook  the  task  ? 
How  did  Cominius  reach  the  capitol  ? 

161.  How  did  the  Senate  receive  the  proposal  ?    How  did 
Camillas  procure  troops  ?    What  discovery  was  made  by  the 
troops  of  Brennus  ? 

102.  What  plan  did  Brennus  propose  to  surprise  the  for- 
'    What  saved  it  from  the  Gauls  who  scaled  the  wall  ? 
Relate  the  heroic  deed  of  Manlius  ? 

163.  How  did  they  deal  with  the  sleepy  sentinel  ?    How 
reward  Manlius?    What  was  the  condition  of  the  Gauls 
within  the  city  ?    What  that  of  the  Romans  within  the  cap- 
itol ?    What  did  they  resolve  upon  ? 

164.  What  agreement  make  with  Brennus?    What  un- 
fairness was  used  by  the  Gauls  ?    How  did  Brennus  insult 
the  Romans?    Who  arrived  in  the  midst  of  the  dispute 
about  the  gold  ? 

165.  What  was  said  by  Camillus?    What  was  done  by 
him  ?    What  was  the  result  of  his  victory  ?• 

166.  What  was  the  condition  of  Rome  after  its  delivery  ? 
What  proposal  was  made  about  the  city  of  Veii  ?    Who  ad- 
vocated it  ? 

167.  Why  did  the  Senate  oppose?    What  was    urged 
against  it  by  Camillus?    With  what  effect?    How  much 
time  was  taken  to  rebuild  Rome  ? 

168.  Why  was  Camillus  again  called  to  the  Dictatorship  ? 
What  titles  were  given  him  ?    Who  refused  to  honor  Camil- 
lus—and  why  ?    How  did  he  seek  to  gain  the  people  ? 

169.  Why  did  the  Patricians  again  create  a  Dictator? 
Who  was  chosen  ?    How  did  he  deal  with  Manlius  ? 

170.  In  what  manner  did  the  friends  of  Manlius  show 
their  sorrow  ?    What  did  they  obtain  for  him  ?    What  honor 
was  again  bestowed  on  Camillus  ?    How  did  this  affect  Man- 


UK  PUBLIC   OF    ROME. 


lius?     What  charges  were  established  against  him?     What 
was  his  condemnation  ? 

VII.—  FOREIGN  CONQUESTS. 
Page  173.  How  long  had  it  taken  the  Romans  to  subdue 
the  surrounding  nations  ?     What  was  their  first  foreign  war  ? 
What  of  Carthage  ?  its  foundations  ?  citizens  ?  fleets  ? 

174.  Where  and  how  had  Carthage  extended   its  con- 
quests ?     How  were  Rome  and  Carthage  separated  ?     What 
disadvantage  had  the  Romans  ?     How  did  they  obtain  a  fleet  ? 

175.  What  of  their  first  naval  commander  ?     What  places 
were  taken  by  their  fleets?    Where  did  they  carry  their 
arms?     Who  commanded  the  first  fleet  sent  to  Carthage? 
Describe  the  engagement? 

176.  Who  wei'  What  further  success  had  the  Ro- 
mans?    What  of  Manlius?    OfRegulus?     What  the  condi- 
tion of  Carthage  ?    Of  what  were  the  Carthaginians  desirous  ? 

177.  Upon  what  terms  did  Regulus  agree  to  withdraw  his 
army.'     How  did  the  Carthaginians  receive  the  proposal? 
W)i»  \\a<  Xantippus? 

178.  What  the  result  of  this  battle?     What  became  of 
Regulus?     What  the  conditions  upon  which  he  was  sent  to 
Rome  .'     How  was  In-  r.  criv.-d  l.y  the  Roman  Senat.-  ' 

179.  Did   Regulus   remain    in   Rome?     WThy   not?     His 
fate  ?     Upon  what  terms  did  the  Romans  grant  peace  to  the 
Carthaginians?    Did  this  peace  continue?    Who  was  the 
cause  of  the  second  war  ? 

180.  What  vow  had  he  made?    Describe  his  passage 
through  Gaul—  across  the  Alps.     Wrho  conducted  the  Ro- 
man army?     Where  did  the  armies  meet?    How  was  the 
battle  decided  ?    How  was  the  life  of  the  Roman  General 
saved  ? 

181.  Who  was  now  sent  against  Hannibal  ?    With  what 
success?     What  more  was  done  to  repel  the  invader  ?    What 
hardships  did  Hannibal  encounter  ?     What  did  he  lose  ? 

182.  What  mistake  was  made  by  Flaminius  ?    With  what 


: 


Vf>ult  '     Who  next  \\a>  ^--nt  to  oppose  Hannibal  .'     How  did 
Fahius  trouble  liiiu  .'     I  low  w;i>   Kal>iu>  ont\\  itted  .'     Why 
lay  dangerous  to  the  Carthaginians  ' 

183.  Hive  ;iu  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  Roman 
army.     What  mistake  did  Hannibal  make  alter  this  battle  ? 
Who  preserved  \(»m<-  from  total  distraction  .'     What  iufor- 
niiitioii  did  S'ij-io  receive  after  the  battle  of  ('a:. 

184.  What  oath  did  he  take,  and  enforce,  of  his  country- 
'     How  did   these   Romans  proc.-ed   to    recover    their 

'     What  was  done  by  Fabiu.s  Maximus  ?     Wh. 
Seipio  doin-  in  Afri.-a  .'     What  kin-s  did  h.-  -ain  ? 

Why  was   Hannibal   recalled.^     Where  did  lie   and 
meet  .'     Wit-h  \\  N  .'     What  was  done  by  the 

I'pou  what  terms  did  the  Romans  grant 
'     Who  was  Ma-inissa? 

AVhat  did  he  do  to  the  Carthaginians?    How  many 

Punic  or  Carthaginian  wars  were  thnv  .'   t'onseipit-nce  of  the 

What  did  Home  after  this  aspire  to  ?     What  nations 

ompiered  1'V  tli«-m  .' 

187.  What  change  accompanied  success  in  the  Romans  ? 
What  moral  change  ?     Who  were  Tiberius  and  Caius  Grac- 

What  >toi  y  is  related  of  their  mother? 

188.  (Jive  s.-ine  account  of  Tiberius.     At  what  sie.^e  did 

What  was  insinuated  by  his  enemies?  How 
wa<  it  >:iM  his  mother  encouraged  his  ambition?  What 
office  did  he  hold? 

189.  To  what  was  his  attention  called?    What  was  the 
Agrarian  law'     Had  this  law  been  enforced?     What  was 
done  by  Tiberius  ? 

190.  How  did  the  nobles  and  the  rich  receive  the  propo- 
sition of  Tiberius?    Who  was  gained  over  by  them  ?    How 
did  Octavius  interpose  to  overthrow  the  measure  ?     In  what 
manner  did  Tiberius  address  the  next  assembly  ? 

I'.tl.   Who  by  vote  was  excluded  from  the  tribuneship  ? 
\V;1-  the  las*  revived  .'      What  elV-vts  re-ulted  ? 

tin-  niiinner  in  which  Tiberius  lost  his  life. 


322  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

Did  the  death  of  Tiberius  affect  the  Agrarian  law  ?  What 
was  the  state  of  Home.  When  was  Caius  Gracchus  elected  ? 
193.  What  were  his  public  acts?  How  were  Drusus  and 
Opimius  excited  against  Caius?  Give  an  account  of  tho 
second  tumult  and  death  of  Caius. 

VIII.— THE  JUGURTHINE  WAR. 

Page  197.  How  did  the  loss  of  the  Gracchi  affect  Rome  ? 
Who  was  Masinissa  ?  Why  did  the  Romans  bestow  upon 
him  Numidia  ?  Who  was  Micipsa  ?  Names  of  his  two  sons  ? 
What  of  Jugurtha  ? 

198.  How  did  Jugurtha  appear  in  early  youth  ?    How  did 
his  mirk- 1 VLTUI  d  him  ?     How  did  his  conduct  change  ?    How 
did  this  affect  Micipsa  ? 

199.  How  did  the  uncle  manage  to  rid  himself  of  Jii'_rur- 
tha  ?     How  did  Jugurtha  gain  the  army  ?     WThat  was  inti- 
mated to  him  ? 

200.  How  received  on  his  return  ?    What  intimated  to 
Miripsa?     How  was  this  adviiv  a<-u-d  upon?     What  hap- 
pened on  the  death  of  the  king  ?     How  was  Numidia  divid- 
ed .'     What  was  tin:  aim  of  .Juirurtha  .' 

201.  What  did  he  do?     How  did  Adhrrkil  act  ?     What 
war  nisnrd  .'    Who  sur<vs>ful  ?    What  became  of  Adhnbal  t 
How  were  the  Romans  atirrt.-d  .' 

202.  What  artifice  did  Ju-urtha  i-mplc.y  ?     With   what 
success  at  Rome  ?    How  did  Jugurtha  dupe  the  commis- 
sioners ? 

203.  What  next  was  done  by  Jugurtha?    How  did  Ad- 
herbal  proceed?    Where  fly?     Next  step    of   Jugurtha? 
What  messengers  were  sent  to  Rome  ? 

204.  Did  the  men,  or  gold,  prevail  ?     What  was  effected 
by  Jugurtha' s  gold  ?     What  did  Adherbal  write  to  the  Sen- 
ate ?     What  was  the  opinion  of  the  honest  men  at  Rome  ? 

205.  Did  their  advice  prevail  ?    What  was  the  fate  of  Ad- 
herbal  ?    Effect  at  Rome  of  this  outrage  ?    Who  was  sent  to 
punish  Jugurtha  ? 


QUESTIONS.  323 

206.  What  was  the  character  of  Calpurnius  ?  What  was 
done  by  Jugurtha  ?  What  ivciuired  by  the  Senate  ?  What 
done  by  tin-  army  under  the  command  of  Calpurnius  ? 

What  was  the  resource  of  Jugurtha?  Give  an  ac- 
c.'uut  of  the  treachery  of  Calpurnius.  Was  this  suspected 
by  tin-  Roman  people? 

Of  what  did  the  Tribunes  complain  ?    What  demand 
Senate  ?    Who  was  sent  to  bring  Jugurtha  to  Rome  ? 
Did  IK-  cnns.-nt  to  go  ?    In  what  did  he  trust  ? 

What  was  done  by  him  on  reaching  Rome  ?    With 
what  did  the  people  threaten  Jugurtha?    What  new  crime 
diil  he  p'-!p«-tiate?     What  did  he  say  when  banished  from 
How  did  the  Romans  proceed  against  him  ? 

210.  Why  did  not  Albinus  succeed  in  Numidia  ?     Who 
took  charge  of  the  army  ?     In  what  manner  was  Aulus  de- 
feated ?     On  what  conditions  were  life  ami  liberty  granted 
to  those  who  escaped  ?    How  did  the  Senate  keep  the 
treaty  ? 

211.  Who  was  intrusted  with  the  war  ?    What  was  done 
in  Africa  by  Metellus  ?    What  terms  did  Metellus  make 
with  Jugurtha  ?    What  prevented  Jugurtha  from  fulfilling 
his  promises  ? 

What  did  he  do  ?  Who  was  Caius  Marius  ?  How 
did  he  cause  trouble  in  the  Roman  camp?  To  what  office 
did  he  aspin-  '  Why  was  this  a  bold  thing  for  Marius? 
llo\v  did  he  pnx  • 

•Jlo.  What  offices  did  Marius  obtain  ?  In  what  manner 
did  Marius  triumph  over  the  Patricians  ?  What  was  done 
by  him  ?  How  did  this  affect  Metellus  ? 

214.  Who  was  sent  to  assist  Marius  in  Africa?  What 
king  gave  aid  to  Jugurtha  ?  What  did  the  two  kings  effect 
•  Marius  ?  How  did  he  retrieve  his  loss  ?  What  of 
Bocchus  ? 

2 1  •"> .  For  what  purpose  did  he  send  ambassadors  to  Rome  ? 
How  were  they  received  and  answered  ?  What  was  the  only 
condition  upon  which  peace  could  be  obtained  from  them  ? 


REPUBLIC   OF   HOME. 


216.  Did  Bocchus  consent  to  deliver  up  Ju.irurtha  ?  How 
did  Marins  enter  the  city  of  Rome  ?  To  what  was  Jugurtha 
condemned  ?  Give  an  account  of  his  end. 

IX.—  MARIUS  AND  SYLLA. 

Page  221.  After  the  defeat  of  Jugurtha  what  marred  the 
rejoicings?  What  caused  jealousy  between  Marius  and 

Sylla  ?    What  the  result  ?    What  invasion  alarmed  the  city  ? 

l!±J.  Where  is  Jutland?     How  many  barbarians  invaded 

Italy  ?     Who  had  command  of  the  Roman  army  ?     What 

s  were  gained  by  him  ?     How  was  Marius  regarded  f 

Uetellus  ? 

223.   H<>\v  did  Marius  accomplish  his  downfall?     What 
i  the  indiirnatii'ii  of  tin-  people?     How  did  they  pro- 
ceed against  tlie>e  wieked  men? 

II'JI.  How  was  Metellus  re>torcd  ?  In  what  manner  did 
th«-  Unman  citi/.;-ns  show  their  love  for  Metellus  ?  Why  did 
Marius  l.-ave  Rome  ?  Origin  of  new  difficulties  in  Rome  ? 

225.  What  rights  had  Roman  t  -iti/.ens  .'  What  was 
claimed  by  those  who  had  submitted  to  Uoine  '  Who  was 
Livius  I  >i  usns?  How  did  he  offend  the  Senate  .' 

What  was  tli.-  tat.-  of  Drusus  ?     To  what  did  thisas- 
ition  ;uouv  the  foreign  subj'---t>  '      Wh  it 
the  social  war  f    What  league  was  entered  into  .'     Why  were 
ambassadors  sent  to  Rome  ?    How  were  they  r«  •<.  •<  -iv.-d  .' 

•J'JT.  What  was  the  number  of  the  Confederate  army? 
Who  commanded  the  legions  <.f  the  Senate?  How  was  this 
contest  carried  on?  What  put  a  stop  to  it  ? 

Who  was  the  great  rival  of  Marius  '     What  dignities 
were  conferred  on  Sylla  ?     Who  was  the  mightiest  prince  of 

How  did  he  give  offence  to  the  Romans  ?    How  tes- 

tify his  contempt  of  their  authority  ?    What  threaten  ?     In 

what  respect  terrible  as  an  enemy  ?    Wrho  by  the  Romans 

was  appointed  to  undertake  the  war  with  Mithridates? 

230.  What  feeling  did  this  rouse  in  Marius  ?     What  re- 


QUESTIONS. 

solve?     Who  joined  him  '     How  did  they  succeed ?     Who 

was  killed  in  the  commotion? 

•_':;].   Where  di.l  Sylla  take  refuse  '     Why  iliil  not  Marine 

put  him  to  death  .'     What  did  he  compel  him  to  do  '     What 

'r.e  next  step  of  Syllii  ?     How  did  Marius  ol»t;iin  CI.MI- 

iiuiiid  of  the  army  ?    Whom  did  he  send  to  take  possession? 

I  >id  Sylla  submit  '      What  was  done  to  th«->e  in 
gers?    How  did  Marius  act?    What  was  the  determination 

233.  Who  were  sent  to  stop  his  march  ?    How  were  these 

men  treat. -d  hy  the  soldiers  of  Sylla?     What  wa> 
to  arre>t  tin-  march  of  Sylla? 

How  did  Sylla  answ.-r  the  artilice  of  Marin-  '      Ii"W 

•  him?     In  what  manner  did  Sylla  treat  Rome  and 

•  uMiIs?     How  many  1  i  ?     How  did  ho 
control  the 

What    law  di.l   he  e>tahli>h  .'     What  decree  repeal  ? 
Who  were  declared  .-nemies  of  the  state?     (Jive  particulars 
j.roseeiition  of  ti 

A  hat  of  the  feelin-  towards  Sylla' 
,i<  h.-d  '  With  what  etl'.-ct  '  Who  was  ( 'inna  .' 
What  wag  done  l.yCimia.'     What  hy  Sylla'     Why 
did  Cinna  wish   to  iveall   Marius.'     How  did  he  prc>< 

What  i>  said  of  the  speech  of  Cinna.'     1IU  d.-man.l  ? 
What  cau>ed  disputes  between  •  i  riti- 

Who  was  Octavius  ?     What  was  done  hy  him  ' 
How  did  Cinna  seek  to  stir  up  the  j.eoph- .'     What 
-••(I  on  him  '     How  did  he  appear  at  Capua  ? 
1MO.    What  were  his  actiOOl  there.     How  :  What 

was  the  strength  of  his  party. 

-41.  What  was  reported  .'     Give  the  story  of  Marius. 
iM'J.   Where  was  Marius  imprisoned?     Relate  what  hap- 
pened to  him  in  prison. 

_  l:i.  Why  was  he  set  free  ?     What  occurred  on  his  voyage  ? 
Where  did  he  land  ? 


326  REPUBLIC  OF  ROME. 

244.  Give  an  coccount  of  Marius  at  Carthage.     Where  was 
Marius  joined  by  his  son  ? 

245.  How  did  Marius  appear  at  Rome  ?    Who  joined  him  ? 
24G.  Who  was  sent  for  to  defend  Rome?    Why  did  not 

Metellus  serve  ?    What  occurred  between  the  Senate  and 
Cinna  ? 

247.  What  oath  did  the  Senate  demand  of  Cinna  ?     What 
was  done  by  Octavius  .' 

248.  How  was  he  treated  by  Marius  and  Cinna  ?    How  did 
they  treat  the  city  of  Rome  ?    Where  was  Sylla  ? 

ill'.'.  How  did  Marius  treat  the  family  of  Sylla?  also  the 
laws  and  ]  .>•)•- >n  of  Sylla?  Who  were  elected  Consuls,? 
What  news  alanm-d  tlu-m  '  How  was  Marius  aff.-ctcd  ' 

250.  To  what  diil  hr  abandon  himself  .'  How  was  the  life 
of  Marius  terminated'  At  what  age?  How  often  was  he 
;  -if  K'.me  '  What  caused  his  ruin  .'  How  were  the 
people  affected  by  his  death  .' 

X.— CIVIL  WAliS   AND  CONSl'IlIAriKS. 

lay  in  the  return  oOylla  .'     Who 

.il.-iius  l-'lacci ;..,.'     Wh'»  Fimbria  .'     What  occurred  be- 
•i  tin-in  .' 

•J.'.l  What  policy  diil  Mithridates  use  with  Sylla  ?  What 
terrified  the  ambassadors  of  the  kini;  .'  Describe  the  inter- 
view I  ila  and  .Mithrid 

Mithridai  !     What  suunnoiis  did 

Sylla  send   (<>   Kiiuhria  '     How   ive.-iv.-d  '      Why  would  not 
the  soldi- -rs  fuht  '     What  th<-  consequence? 

What  was  the  Tate  of  Fimbria  .'  Where  did  Sylla 
conduct  his  troops  .'  What  ord.-r  wa>  i»u<-d  by  the  Consuls  ? 
Who  were  they  .'  What  tin-  fate  of  Cinna.'  How  was  the 
army  of  Sylla  increased  ?  Who  was  Cn.  I'oinpeius  ' 

How  old  was  I'ompey  th.-  <ireat  at  that  time  ?  What 
number  of  men  did  he  bring  to  Sylla  ?  How  did  Sylla  ob- 
tain the  troops  of  Scipio  .'  What  was  done  by  young  Ma- 


QUESTIONS.  327 

258.  How  were  his  troops  routed  ?    Where  did  he  take 
refuge  ?    What  was  done  by  Sylla  to  capture  Marius  ?    To 
what  was  the  attention  of  Italy  directed  ? 

259.  Did  they  afford  relief  to  Marius  ?     Whom  did  the 
army  of  Marius  join  ?     Who  was  Telesinus  ?    To  what  place 
diil  ho  march  ?     What  was  done  by  the  inhabitants  ? 

260.  What  was  said  by  Tel, -sinus  to  his  army?     Who 
commanded  the  people  ?    How  did  they  sustain  the  attack  ? 
Give  an  account  of  the  battle  between  Telesinus  and  Sylla  ? 
Win-re  was  tli--  battle  f.u-lit  ? 

261.  How  did  the  people  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  Sam- 
nites  into  the  gates?    What  terrible  disaster  occurred? 
What  suspended  tli.-  cnntli.  t  '     Who  overcame  ?    How  did 
Sylla's  cnn-lty  appear .'     What  became  of  young  Marius? 

H«>\\-  did  Sylla  enter  K.>me?     In  what  manner  did  he 
b  his  glory?     Mention  some  of  his  monstrous  acts  of 
cruelty. 

263.  What  was  said  to  him  by  Metellus?    What  was 
Sylla's  reply?    How  did  he  reward  his  soldiers ?    How  did 
he  change  the  government  of  Rome  ? 

264.  How  many  of  his  citizens  had  Sylla  destroyed  ?    How 
many  senators  and  knights  ?     What  was  his  most  extraor- 
dinary act  ?     What  was  his  ruling  passion  ? 

265.  What  struck  the  multitude  with  awe  ?    How  did  the 
Romans  regard  this  act  ?    In  what  manner  did  Sylla  die  ? 
What  did  he  leave  for  his  epitaph  ?    What  was  attempted 

Mus  ? 

Who  were  chiefs  of  the  Patricians?  Whom  did 
Lepidus  gain  to  his  party  ?  What  became  of  him  ?  and  of 
Brutus  ? 

1M7.  What  put  an  end  to  the  Spanish  war?  Who  was 
Spartacus  ?  Who  joined  him  ?  Who  went  against  him  ? 

268.  Relate  his  fall.  What  caused  the  jealousy  between 
Crassus  and  Pompey  ?  How  did  Crassus  seek  to  gain  the 
people  of  Rome  ?  How  did  Pompey  make  himself  the  idol 
of  the  people  ? 


328  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

269.  What  appointment  was  given  to  him  ?     In  what  con- 
dition was  Rome  at  this  time  ?     What  Avas  going  on  ?    Who 
was  Catiline  ? 

270.  What  his  character?     Of  what  crimes  was  he  ac- 
cused ?     Who  were  ready  to  join  Catiline  in  any  plot  ? 

'  1271.  What  plot  was  formed?  Who  the  leader?  What 
noted  men  were  in  it  ?  What  of  women  ?  What  was  the 
object  of  all  these? 

272.  Whose  attention  did  this  conspiracy  engage  ?     What 
was  ascertained  hy  Cicero  ?     What  did  he  learn  of  these  pro- 
ceedings ? 

273.  What  news  threw  Catiline  into  consternation  ?  What 
did  he  and  his  party  resolve  upon?     What  was  he  to  do? 
Who  was  to  stab  Cicero  ? 

•J71.  In  what  manner  'li<l  the  Senate  show  confidence  in 
Cicero?  How  did  he  prepare  for  defence  '  What  papers 
were  brought  to  tin-  Beoatc  .'  What  was  d..ne  by  Catiline  ? 

276.   How  was  Cicero  affected  .'     Speech  of  Cicero. 

276.  How  was  he  answered  by  Catiline?  How  was  Cati- 
:vcd  to  stop'  What  was  his  declaration? 

•J77.  Where  did  he  go.'  Whom  did  the  conspirators 
attempt  to  draw  into  the  plot?  With  what  promise  .'  To 
whom  did  they  divulge  the  plot  '  How  did  the  ambassadors 
procure  evidence  against  Catil'r 

•21*.  To  what  \\rie  the  chief  conspirators  condemned ? 

*J7'.'.  Was  I  'atiline  among  them  .'  What  was  he  compelled 
to  do?  Doseribe  his  death.  How  was  Cicero  honored? 

280.  What  was-  he  declared  .'  What  did  the  Emperor 
Augustus  say  of  him  ? 

XI.-.IVLIUS  CJSSAR. 

285.  How  did  Rome  now  lose  its  republican  form  of 
government?  What  two  men  divided  public  attention? 
How  was  Pompey  illustrious  ? 

286.  What  was  the  cause  of  the  enmity  between  him  and 
Julius  Caesar?  Of  which  party  was  Pompey?  Of  which 


Q  u  K>  r  1 O.N  s. 

Julius  Cu-siir  ?  Why  was  Ca-sar  impeached  ?  What  was  the 
effect  of  his  eloquence  ?  Who  with  Pom  ivy  divided  the 
favor  of  tlr  S 

How  did  I'a-sar  obtain  the  consulate  ?  What  was  his 
policy  as  to  the  Airrarian  law?  What  government  did  Cae- 
sar obtain  for  Pompey  ?  ForCrassus?  For  himself  ?  How 
did  he  use  his  power  ?  How  treat  Cato  ?  Bibulus  ?  Lucul- 
lus  ?  Cicero  ? 

289.  How  did  Cirsar  set  out  for  his  government  ?     What 
him  to  the  highest  rank  among  the  captains  ?     What 
nations  had  he  conquered?     How  many  citi.s'     What  of 
his  battles  ?     Of  his  ambition  ?     His  treasures? 

Why  diil  Cji-sar  love  money  .'  How  did  he  spend  it? 
H->w  a-.-Ln  lands  and  the  ehief  offices  of  state  ? 

How  was  Pompey  affected  by  the  influence  of  Caesar  ? 
In  what  condition  was  Home,  through  these  disputes  ?  What 
was  done  by  Cato  ? 

What  u  as  the  demand  of  Caesar  ?    How  was  this  op- 
'     How  did  Pompey  act  in  secret?     Why  did 
\  1  ps  ? 

What  1< -tiers  send  to  the  Senate  ?    What  decree  did 
they  pass?     Who  opposed  this?     How  did  the  Senate 
them  ?     What  had  Pompey  on  his  side  ?     What  had  Caesar? 

Describe  Caesar  at  the  River  Rubicon.  To  what  place 
did  lie  march?  How  was  this  news  received  at  Rome? 
What  wa>  don.-  by  Pompey  and  the  Senate  ? 

What  by  the  city  ?  What  pursuit  then  commenced  ? 
What  happened  on  the  plains  of  Pharsalia  ?  How  long  had 
Pompey  been  a  conqueror?  To  what  now  reduced?  Of 
whom  sink  protection  ?  What  treachery  did  Ptolemy  con- 
template ' 

296.  Give  an  account  of  the  death  of  Pompey.     What  did 
Caesar  become  ?     What  titles  and  honors  were  conferred  on 
him  ?    Why  was  not  that  of  king  given  him  ?     Why  did  his 
enemies  wish  him  to  assume  it  ? 

297.  What  proposal  was  made  ?    What  was  agreed  upon 


330  REPUBLIC   OF   ROME. 

in  private  cabals  ?  Who  was  at  the  head  of  this  conspiracy  ? 
Who  associated  with  Brutus?  What  day  was  fixed  upon? 
How  had  Cicsar  been  warned  ? 

298.  How  far  did  these  things  affect  him  ?  How  was  lie 
attacked?  What  was  done  by  Casca  ?  How  did  the  sight 
of  r.rutus  aft'ert  him? 

What  followed  this  bloody  scene  ?  What  was  done 
by  the  conspirators  ?  Did  the  people  approve  ?  Upon  what 
did  Antony  resolve  ? 

300.  How  did  he  proceed?    What  did  the  Senate  decide 
on  ?    How  were  the  people  affected  by  the  reading  of  Caasar's 
\\  ill  .'     What  did  he  leave  to  the  citizens  and  others  ? 

301.  Give  an  account  of  the  funeral  oration  of  Marc  An- 
tony and  its  effect?     Who  was  tin;  adopted  son  and  heir  of 

1 1.  >w  old  was  he  at  Caesar's  death  ?    On  what  did  he 

iv>o|ve  .'     What   name  a»ume '     How  was  he  received  in 

KJ>IIIC  .'      Wh"-<-  friendship  did  (  letavius  beg  ? 

Why  did  Antony  at   first  refuse  his  claims  '     Why 

afterwards  -rant  them  ?     How  did  Octavius  tfain  the  people? 

How  was  ( >.  tavius  regarded  by  Antony?     Why  did  the  Sen- 
How  did  Antony  secure  the  interest  at 

Why  did  Oetavins  wish  the  consulship  .' 

How  obtain  it  '     What  do  >     Why  reeall  Antony  ? 
Where  did  the  thiv  in. -el  .'     HOW.'     What  d.-ter- 

niine  upon  in  their  conference  ?     What  was  the  Triumviri  ? 

How  did   they   divide   the  commonwealth?    How  obtain 

money  ? 

307.  How   many  were   involved    in    this    proscription? 

What  war  beiran  .'     (iive  an  account  of  what  took  pi  . 

1'hilippi.     What  sprang  from  this  field  ?     What  left  Octavius 
r  of  the  world  .' 

What  title  did  he  assume'     What  flourished  in  his 
'     What  temple  was  closed  ?     How  was  Augn>tu>  hon- 

01  ed  I'V  the  prop],-  .'       What  month  n.iin-  d  attrl   him.' 


IN  the  two  parts  recently  offered  to  the  public, 
respectively  entitled  THE  KINGS  OF  ROME  and  THE 
HLIC  OF  ROME,  the  narrative  of  the  establish- 
ment and  growth  of  the  Roman  power  is  brought 
down  to  the  death  of  Julius  Caesar.  The  present 
volume,  which  forms  a  sequel  to  those  just  nnim .•«!, 
begins  with  the  circumstances  that  attended  the 
elevation  of  Octavius,  and  relates  the  most  interesting 
portions  of  the  history  of  the  empire  to  the  d«  ath 
of  Constantine,  during  whose  reign  Rome  ceased  to 
be  the  capital  of  the  world.  Few,  perhaps,  who 
have  read  the  first  two  volumes,  will  fail  to  go  to  the 
sources  from  which  the  narrative  has  been  drawn; 
and  it  is  believed  that  those  who  read  the  present 
volume,  will  be  induced,  not  only  to  investigate  more 
closely  the  subjects  herein  presented,  but  to  pursue 
the  study  of  this  interesting  history  to  the  dissolution 
of  the  empire. 


Arrangement. 


PAOB 

1. — THE  BEGINNING  or  THE  EMPIRE 15 

II. — CALIGULA  AKD  CLAUDIUS 47 

III.— TDK  LAST  or  THE  CJBARB 76 

I V.— TRANSIKNT  RULERS 101 

\  '.— VESPASIAN  AKD  BIS  Sows 1 1:8 

^'  I.— EXTENSION  or  THE  EXPIRE 147 

V 1 1.— THE  ANTONINES 178 

V  III.— THE  PRAETORIAN  GUARDS 197 

1 X.— THE  DECLINE  or  THE  EMPIRE 241 

X. — ROME  ABANDONED..  .  278 


ustrgtuns. 


PAOB 

DEATH  OF  MARK  ANTONY Frontitpiece. 

NERO'S  EXPEDITION  TO  GREECE 74 

A  ROYAL  GLADIATOR 196 

A  ROMAN  EMPEROR  ENSLAVED 240 


THE  Battle  of  Actium— Death  of  Antony— Octavius  and 
Cleopatra — Singular  death  of  Cleopatra — Extent  of  the  Em- 
pire— Appearance  of  Rome — Octavius  becomes  Emperor — 
Takes  the  name  of  Augustus — His  Kindness  and  Magna- 
nimity— His  Wars — Birth  of  Christ — Death  of  Augustus — 
The  Honors  paid  to  him — Tiberius  made  Emperor — Re- 
volt of  the  Army — Tiberius  jealous  of  Germanicus — His 
treatment  of  Germanicus — Baseness  of  Piso  and  Placina — 
Death  of  Germanicus — Indignation  of  the  People — Piso  de- 
stroys himself— Ambition  of  Sejanus — His  Schemes  to  ob- 
tain the  Empire — His  Detection  and  Punishment — Wretched 
Condition  of  Tiberius — His  Death — His  Treatment  of  the 
Christians, 


DEATH  OP  MARK  ANTONY. 


I. 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE. 


BY  the  death  of  Caesar,  Rome,  as  may  be 
learned  by  reference  to  the  close  of  the  pre- 
ceding volume,  was  thrown  into  the  utmost 
contusion.  The  people,  easily  persuaded  that 
he  had  been  unjustly  murdered,  compelled  all 
the  principal  actors  in  the  bloody  scene  to  flee 
from  the  city.  The  government  was  then 
usurped  by  three  men — Antony,  a  friend  of 
Caesar,  Lepidus,  one  of  his  generals,  and  Octa- 
vius,  his  adopted  son — who  were  called  trium- 
virs, or  a  triumvirate.  The  chiefs,  of  the  con- 
spiracy, Brutus  and  Cassius,  with  their  adhe- 
rents, were  defeated  in  battle,  as  already  stated, 
on  the  plains  of  Philippi,  where  they  both 
committed  suicide ;  and  then  the  members  of 
the  triumvirate,  each  anxious  to  be  first,  began 
a  dreadful  quarrel  among  themselves.  Lepidus, 
the  weakest  of  the  number,  was  M.UJI  deposed 


EMPIRE  or  EOME. 


Battle  of  Actium. 


and  banished.  Mark  Antony,  the  master  of 
the  greater  part  of  Asia  and  Egypt,  and  in  alli- 
ance with  some  of  the  most  powerful  kings, 
ceuld  not  be  so  easily  disposed  of  by  the  ambi- 
tious Octavius,  who  now  wished  to  rule  alone. 
His  shameful  conduct,  however,  in  Egypt, 
where  he  became  intoxicated  with  the  charms 
of  Cleopatra,  its  queen,  having  excited  against 
him  the  displeasure  of  his  countrymen,  he  was 
deprived  of  his  government.  But  being  nat- 
tered and  encouraged  by  the  beautiful  Egyptian 
queen,  he  defied  the  power  of  Rome,  and 
brought  about  a  war  between  his  country  and 
Cleopatra,  which  resulted  in  his  total  ruin. 

It  was  the  naval  battle  fought  near  Actium, 
a  city  of  Epirus,  that  decided  the  fate  of  Anto- 
ny, and  made  Octavius  master  of  the  Ro- 
man world.  The  ships  of  Antony  and  Cleopa- 
tra were  ranged  near  the  mouth  of  the  Gulf,  in 

O 

opposition  to  those  of  Octavius,  while  the  land 
armies  of  the  two  generals  were  drawn  up  on 
either  side,  only  as  spectators  of  the  engage- 
ment. The  conflict  was  maintained  with  equal 
animosity  by  both  parties,  and  the  advantage 
gained  by  either  was  not  at  all  perceptible, 
when,  suddenly,  the  fortune  of  the  day  was  de- 
cided by  the  flight  of  Cleopatra,  attended  by 
sixty  of  her  vessels.  Antony  himself  immedi- 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      17 

Death  of  Antony— Octavius  and  Cleopatra. 

ately  followed  her,  leaving  his  fleet  at  the 
mercy  of  the  enemy ;  and  this,  together  with 
his  land  forces,  soon  after  submitted  to  the  vic- 
torious Octavius.  The  numerous  misfortunes 
which  afterwards  befell  him  in  rapid  succes- 
sion, produced  such  an  effect  upon  his  mind, 
that  he  called  one  of  his  slaves,  named  Eros, 
whom  he  engaged,  by  an  oath,  to  kill  him  when- 
ever fortune  should  drive  him  to  this  last  re- 
source. Eros  being  soon  after  commanded  to 
fulfil  his  promise,  pretended  the  utmost  readi- 
ness to  obey,  and,  requesting  Antony  to  turn 
away  his  face,  stabbed  himself,  and  fell  dead 
at  his  master's  feet.  Moved  by  such  a  display 
of  heroic  affection,  Antony  hung  for  a  long 
while  in  silent  agony  over  the  body  of  his  faith- 
ful servant;  and  then,  taking  up  the  sword, 
gave  himself  a  mortal  blow. 

The  wound,  though  frightful,  did  not  prove 
fatal  at  once ;  and  the  unfortunate  man  ordered 
those  who  heard  his  groans  to  carry  him*  into 
the  presence  of  Cleopatra.  The  horror-stricken 
queen  tore  her  clothes,  beat  her  breast,  and 
kissed  the  wound  of  which  her  lover  was  rapid- 
ly dying.  Her  transports  of  grief  were  beyond 
description ;  she  was,  indeed,  with  difficulty  pre- 
vented from  destroying  her  own  life.  In  the 
mean  time,  Octavius,  arriving  in  the  city  of 

2* 


18  EMPIRE   OF  KOAIE. 

Cleopatra's  singular  Death. 

Alexandria,  laid  plans  for  seizing  the  person  of 
Cleopatra,  in  order  to  lead  her  as  a  captive  in 
his  triumphal  entrance  into  Rome.  But  the 
queen  learning  his  intentions,  resolved  to  de- 
feat them,  by  putting  an  end  to  her  life.  Going 
previously  to  the  tomb  of  Antony,  she  crowned 
it  with  garlands  of  flowers,  and  kissed  the 
coffin  a  thousand  times.  Then,  returning  to 
her  palace,  she  ordered  one  of  her  domestics  to 
bring  to-  her  secretly,  in  a  basket  of  fruit,  an 
asp,  the  bite  of  which,  though  deadly,  was  not 
accompanied  with  pain.  Informing  Octavius, 
by  letter,  of  her  fatal  purpose,  and  requesting 
Li m  to  bury  her  in  the  same  tomb  with  Anto- 
ny, she  arrayed  herself  in  the  most  splendid 
manner,  and  then  dismissing  all  but  her  two 
attendants,  Charmion  and  Iris,  laid  down  upon 
a  gilded  couch,  and  suffered  herself  to  be  stung 
by  the  poisonous  reptile.  As  soon  as  Octavius 
received  her  letter,  he  sent  messengers  in  all 
haste  to  prevent  her  terrible  design,  but  they 
arrived  too  late.  Cleopatra  was  already  dead ; 
and  by  her  side  was  stretched  the  lifeless  body 
of  her  faithful  Iris.  Charmion,  herself  just  ex- 
piring, was  arranging  the  diadem  upon  Cleo- 
patra's head.  "  Alas  !"  cried  one  of  the  mes- 
sengers, "  was  this  well  done,  Charmion  ?" 
"Yes,"  replied  Charmion,  "it  is  well  done* 


B  E  i  J  I  N  N  1  N  » '•    <>F    T  II  K    K  M  1M  K  K  .          19 
Extent  of  the  Empire— Appearance  of  Rome. 

such  a  death  becomes  a  queen  defended  from 
a  long  line  of  glorious  ancestors ;"  and  the 
words  were  no  sooner  pronounced  than  she  fell 
dead  at  the  feet  of  her  beloved  mistix 

At  this  period,  Rome  was  at  its  gre: 
height  of  wealth  and  splendor.  Its  dominion 
had  been  extended  over  all  the  nations  of  Eu- 
rope, except  some  powerful  northern  tribes, 
that  still  maintained  their  independence.  With- 
in the  limits  of  its  empire  were  England, 
France,  Spain,  Germany,  all  the  States  of  Italy, 
Greece,  the  country  now  occupied  by  Turkey 
in  Europe,  and  many  other  nations.  Its  sway 
extended  over  Asia  Minor,  Syria,  Palestine, 
Arabia,  Persia,  Parthia,  and  all  the  northern 
part  of  Africa,  from  Mauritania,  now  Morocco, 
on  the  west,  to  Ethiopia  uii  the  east.  Through- 
out all  these  countries  the  people  of  Rome  had 
extended  the  arts  of  painting,  sculpture,  and  ar- 
chitecture, so  that  a  multitude  of  cities  in  various 
parts  of  Europe,  Africa,  and  Asia,  were  filled 
with  costly  temples  and  palaces  of  marble,  with 
beautiful  statues  and  valuable  paintings.  But 
Rome  itself  was,  of  all  the  cities  in  the  world 
the  most  wonderful.  At  this  period  it  was  fifty 
miles  in  circumference,  and  contained  four 
millions  of  inhabitants.  Within  it  were  the 
choicest  treasures  of  the  countries  which  it  had 


20  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

Change  in  Octaviua. 

conquered;  the  most  beautiful  statues  from 
Greece ;  columns  and  obelisks  from  Egypt ; 
gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones  from  every 
quarter  of  the  earth.  It  was  adorned  with  the 
most  magnificent  temples,  theatres,  public 
baths,  aqueducts,  and  triumphal  arches  ;  and 
was,  by  far,  the  most  splendid  city  in  the  world. 
In  polite  learning,  too,  the  Romans  had  made 
a  proficiency  which  has  never  since  been  ex- 
celled. Besides  Virgil,  Horace,  and  Ovid, 
poets  whose  names  are  familiar  to  every  one, 
Livy,  the  historian,  graced  this  period.  In 
short,  the  glories  of  this  age  reflect  a  lustre  on 
human  nature  itself. 

From  the  moment  that  Octavius  found  him- 
self the  master  of  the  world,  the  government  of 
Rome  took  a  permanent  form.  This  man,  who, 
when  surrounded  by  rivals,  had  been  so  cruel, 
now  became  mild  and  kind.  He  labored  ear- 
nestly to  unite  the  interests  of  the  different 
classes.  Causing  himself  to  be  created  Tribune 
of  the  People,"  and  Prince  of  the  Senate,  he 
managed  to  govern  both,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
to  make  them  believe  that  they  were  governing 
themselves.  Taking  great  care  to  encourage 
men  of  learning,  and  to  cultivate  their  friend- 
ship, he  was  repaid  by  hearing  his  praise  cir- 
culated in  every  portion  of  his  empire. 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      21 

The  Senate  declare  Octavius  Emperor. 

When  thoroughly  convinced  that  he  had  se- 
cured the  attachment  of  all  orders  of  the  State, 
he  resolved  upon  making  a  great  display  of  his 
magnanimity,  by  pretending  a  wish  to  relin- 
quish the  sovereign  power.  All  parties,  of 
course,  united  in  entreating  him  to  retain  the 
government,  which  he  finally  consented  to  do, 
though,  apparently,  with  great  reluctance. 
Such  an  exhibition  of  moderation,  and  so 
much  devotion  to  the  public  interest,  created  a 
strong  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Senate  and  the 
people  to  do  whatever  might  afford  him  pleas- 
ure. Then  it  was  that  the  title  which  he  had 
as-umed  of  AUGUSTUS  IMPERATOE  was  legiti- 
mately bestowed  upon  him,  and  his  person  was 
declared  sacred  and  inviolable.  The  Senate, 
by  oath,  approved  of  all  his  acts,  and  set  him 
wholly  above  the  power  of  the  laws.  They 
went  so  far  as  to  swear  obedience,  not  only  to 
the  laws  which  he  had  made,  but  even  to  those 
which  he  should  make  for  the  future.  In  fact 
his  power  was  unlimited,  while  no  one  seemed 
to  feel  or  know  it. 

The  numerous  titles  and  employments  which 
were  thus  heaped  upon  Augustus,  did  not  seem 
to  render  him  less  assiduous  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  His  whole  life  appeared  now  to 
be  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his  subjects ;  and 


22  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

"Wise  regulations  of  Augustus. 

especially  did  he  aim  at  the  suppression  of  cor- 
ruption in  the  Senate,  and  of  licentiousness  in 
the  people.  Through  his  instrumentality  a 
great  check  was  placed  upon  those  cruel  shows 
of  gladiators,  so  common  during  this  corrupt 
period.  He  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
marriages  and  domestic  happiness,  fining  those 
who  refused  to  enter  into  wedlock,  and  reward- 
ing those  who  reared  large  and  healthy  fami- 
lies. He  ordered  that  the  senators  should  be 
held  in  great  reverence,  and  added  much  to 
their  outward  dignity.  He  was  very  strict  in 
regard  to  the  morals  of  play-actors,  forbidding 
the  least  licentiousness  in  their  lives,  and  inde- 
cency in  their  actions.  In  order  to  prevent 
bribery  at  elections,  he  took,  as  a  pledge,  con- 
sidi'ttiblo  sums  of  money  from  the  candidates, 
which  he  obliged  them  to  forfeit  in  case  they 
were  guilty  of  any  unjust  practices.  In  this 
way  he  did  much  to  extirpate  vice,  and  to  im- 
prove the  conduct  of  the  Roman  people. 

The  agreeable  manners  and  kindness  of  Au- 
gustus, made  him  a  great  favorite  among  the 
people ;  their  lawsuits,  even,  he  condescended 
to  plead  in  person,  and  such  was  his  affability 
that  he  returned  the  salutations  of  the  meanest 
persons.  It  is  said  that  some  one,  on  a  certain 
occasion,  presenting  him  a  petition  with  much 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      23 

His  Kindness  unu  Magnanimity. 

timidity,  Augustus  looked  at  him  in  a  reproach- 
ful manner,  and  exclaimed:  "What,  friend! 
you  act  as  if  you  were  offering  something  to  an 
elephant,  and  not  to  a  man ;  be  bolder !"  But 
the  greatness  of  his  mind  was  best  exemplified 
in  his  magnanimous  treatment  of  Cornelius 
Cinna,  the  grandson  of  Pompey.  This  noble- 
man had  entered  into  a  dangerous  conspiracy 
against  him;  but  the  plot  was  discovered  be- 
\'<  'iv  it  was  ripe  for  execution.  For  a  long  tinio 
Augustus  was  uncertain  how  he  should  act. 
JI>  clemency,  however,  at  last  prevailing,  he 
sent  for  those  who  bad  been  found  guilty,  and 
having  reprimanded  them,  dismissed  them  with- 
out any  further  punishment.  Then  turning  to 
Cinna,  the  chief  of  the  conspirators,  he  thus  ad- 
dressed him :  "  I  have  twice  given  you  your 
life — first  as  an  enemy,  then  as  a  conspirator ; 
I  now  give  you  the  consulship ;  let  us  there- 
fore be  friends  for  the  future,  and  let  us  only 
contend  in  showing  whether  my  confidence  or 
your  fidelity  shall  be  victorious."  From  this 
time,  it  is  said,  that  all  conspiracies  against 
Augustus  ceased. 

Although  he  was  himself  totally  destitute  of 
military  skill,  the  Eoman  arms,  under  his  lieu- 
tenants, were  still  generally  crowned  with  sue- 
But  the  wars  which  were  carried  on  in 


24  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

The  "Wars  during  the  Eeign  of  Augustus. 

distant  provinces  aimed  rather  at  enforcing 
obedience  than  at  extending  dominion;  and 
thus  the  Cantabrians,  the  Germans,  the  Rhe- 
tians,  the  Dacians,  the  Armenians,  and  other 
nations,  were  successively  defeated  in  vari- 
ous contests,  and  compelled  to  acknowledge 
the  supremacy  of  Rome.  The  war  with  the 
Dalmatians  and  Pannonians,  one  of  the  most 
obstinate  that  occurred  during  his  reign,  con- 
tinued nearly  three  years ;  but  that  which 
proved  most  fatal  to  the  Roman  interests,  was 
under  the  management  of  one  of  his  generals, 
named  Quintilius  Yarus.  This  general,  inva- 
ding the  territories  of  the  Germans,  followed 
the  enemy  among  their  forests  and  marshes, 
with  his  army,  in  detachments,  and  was  entire- 
ly cut  off,  with  all  his  forces,  composed  of  the 
choicest  troops  of  the  empire.  Such  was  the 
effect  of  this  misfortune  upon  the  mind  of  Au- 
gustus, that  he  was  often  afterwards  heard  to 
cry  out,  in  a  tone  of  anguish :  "  Quintilius  Ya- 
rus, restore  to  me  my  legions  !" 

The  reign  of  Augustus,  which  continued 
during  a  space  of  forty  years,  was  peaceful  and 
little  interrupted  by  commotions,  wars,  and  po- 
litical intrigues,  which  are,  indeed,  the  chief 
materials  of  history.  About  the  middle  of  this 
reign,  most  of  the  nations  of  the  world  found 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      25 


Birth  of  Christ 


themselves,  at  once,  yielding  obedience  to  the 
same  monarch,  and  in  perfect  harmony  with 
each  other.  It  may  with  propriety  be  regarded 
as  a  fitting  time  for  the  appearance  upon  earth 
of  the  Prince  of  Peace;  and,  indeed,  it  ANUS 
about  fourteen  years  before  the  death  of  Augus- 
tus that  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the 
world.  He  was  born  in  Judea,  one  of  the 
many  provinces  of  Rome,  in  the  seven  hundred 
and  fifty-second  year  of  this  remarkable  city, 
and  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  the  reign  of  the 
first  of  its  emperors. 

While  so  fortunate  in  the  affairs  of  his  gov- 
ernment, Augustus,  in  his  domestic  relations, 
experienced  a  great  deal  of  unhappiness.  Al- 
though twice  married,  he  had  but  one  child,  a 
daughter,  named  Julia.  He  felt,  however,  some- 
what consoled  for  the  want  of  children,  by  see- 
in  g  her  married  and  surrounded  by  a  large  and 
promising  family ;  but,  finally,  her  husband 
died,  and  then,  one  by  one,  her  children  also  fol- 
lowed. Meanwhile,  Augustus  caused  his  daugh- 
ter Julia  to  be  married  to  Tiberius  Claudius 
Nero,  a  son  of  his  second  wife,  born  during  her 
first  marriage.  He  also  adopted  Tiberius,  com- 
pelling him  in  turn  to  adopt  Germanicus,  the 
only  surviving  child  of  his  brother  Drusus. 
Tiberius  had  always  been  very  serviceable  in 
8 


EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 


Sickness  and  Death  of  Augustus. 


the  management  of  public  affairs ;  Augustus, 
therefore,  on  arriving  at  the  seventy-fourth  year 
of  his  age,  constituted  him  his  successor,  and 
gave  up  to  him,  almost  entirely,  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  State. 

About  this  time,  seeming  to  be  apprehensive 
of  his  approaching  end,  he  made  his  will,  and 
then  solemnized  the  census  or  numbering  of  the 
people,  whom  he  found  to  amount  to  four  mil- 
lions one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  thousand. 
Soon  after  this,  having  accompanied  Tiberius 
in  his  march  into  Illyria,  as  far  as  Beneventum, 
he  was  attacked  violently  by  a  diarrhoea.  Re- 
turning  thence  to  Nbla,  he  became  so  ill  that 
he  sent  for  Tiberius,  with  the  rest  of  his  most 
intimate  friends  and  acquaintance.  Apprising 
them  of  his  conviction  that  his  end  had  come, 
he  gave  them  his  last  instructions.  It  is  said 
that,  a  few  hours  before  his  death,  he  ordered 
a  looking-glass  to  be  brought,  and  his  hair  to 
be  dressed  with  more  than  usual  care.  Then 
addressing  his  friends,  whom  he  beheld  sur- 
rounding his  bed,  he  desired  to  know  whether 
he  had  acted  well  his  part  in  life.  Receiving 
an  affirmative  reply,  he  cried  out  with  his  last 
breath,  "  Then  give  me  your  applause." 

When  the  death  of  Augustus  became  known, 
lamentation  was  heard  throughout  the  empire. 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      27 

Honors  psid  to  Augustus — Commencement  of  the  Reign  of  Tiberius. 

His  funeral  ceremonies  were  performed  with 
tlie  utmost  magnificence ;  and  when  the  rites 
were  over,  his  will  was  read  in  the  Senate- 
House.  In  this  will  he  made  Tiberius  and  Livia 
his  heirs,  and  gave  large  legacies  to  many  private 
persons,  and  some  memento  to  the  praetorian 
guards,  and  to  all  the  citizens  of  Rome.  Tem- 
ples were  afterwards  erected  to  his  memory; 
divine  honors  were  allowed  to  him ;  and  it  is 
said  that  one  of  the  senators,  in  consideration  of 
a  large  sum  of  money,  swore  that  he  had  seen 
him  ascending  into  heaven. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  Augustus  did 
all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  happiness  and 
welfare  of  his  subjects.  While  he  appeared  to 
give  them  a  republican  form  of  government, 
he  really  ruled  them  as  the  most  .absolute  mon- 
arch ;  but,  guided  by  his  consummate  pru- 
dence, they  were  prosperous  and  contented. 
In  this  virtue  few  monarchs  ever  excelled  him  ; 
and,  could  his  early  crimes  be  forgotten,  he 
might  be  pronounced  one  of  the  most  faultless 
princes  that  ever  lived. 

The  reign  of  Tiberius  began  fourteen  years 
after  the  birth  of  Christ ;  and  the  unworthy 
successor  of  Augustus  was  fifty-six  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  the  empire.  He  soon  found 
means  to  render  himself  unpopular,  by  claim- 


28  EMPIRE   OF   Ko MB. 

Revolt  of  the  Array  under  Germanicus. 

ing  as  a  debt  that  homage  which  his  predeces- 
sor had  been  willing  to  receive  as  a  favor.  In 
the  beginning  of  his  reign,  however,  he  was 
governed,  apparently,  by  generous  and  noble 
feelings.  The  great  names  and  titles  which 
were  liberally  bestowed  upon  him  by  the  Sen- 
ate, he  utterly  rejected.  He  likewise  prohib- 
ited the  erection  of  statues  in  his  honor,  and 
the  worship  which  was  offered  to  him  as  to  a 
deity.  Besides  all  this,  he  assumed  an  appear- 
ance of  great  patience  and  moderation  on  all 
occasions,  and  even  suffered  others  to  speak  ill 
of  himself  and  of  his  government,  saying  that 
"  in  a  free  city  the  tongues  of  men  ought  also  to 
be  free."  lie  manifested,  too,  a  great  hatred  of 
vice,  as  well  as  a  detenu i nation  to  cause  jus- 
tice to  be  duly  and  regularly  administered 
throughout  every  part  of  his  empire.  In  short, 
he  contrived,  for  a  season,  to  enjoy  a  degree  of 
ivsjiectand  admiration  almost  equal  to  that  of 
the  excellent  monarch  who  had  preceded  him. 
Germanicus,  the  nephew  and  adopted  son  of 
Tiberius,  was  at  the  head  of  the  Roman  armies 
in  Germany  when  Augustus  died.  As  soon  as 
intelligence  of  this  event  was  brought  into  that 
region,  these  armies  revolted,  and  declared  that 

O  '  > 

the  Roman  Empire  was  in  their  gift,  inasmuch 
as  its  principal  grandeur  was  owing  to  the  sue- 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      29 

Jealousy  cf  Tiberius. 

cess  of  their  arms.  They  resolved  that  they 
would  choose  an  emperor  themselves ;  and  Ger- 
manicus  being  greatly  beloved  by  thorn  all, 
they  offered  to  raise  him  to  this  exalted  dignity. 
It  is  probable,  too,  that  this  might  have  been 
easily  done;  but  Germanicus  was  a  man  who 
could  not,  for  any  consideration,  be  tempted  to 
do  what  was  dishonorable  or  wrong.  Their 
offers  were  consequently  rejected  with  the  ut- 
most indignation,  and  their  seditious  behavior 
was  promptly  quelled. 

When  information  of  this  was  brought  to 
Tiberius,  he  was,  of  course,  gratified  by  the 
loyalty  of  Germanicus,  but,  at  the  same  time, 
exceedingly  distressed  by  his  popularity ;  and, 
a  short  time  after,  his  jealousy  was  so  much  in- 
ilamed  by  the  success  of  Germanicus  against 
the  Germans,  whom  he  beat  in  a  number  of 
battles,  that  he  determined  to  find  some  plausi- 
ble pretence  for  detaching  him  from  the  armies. 
It  was  not,  however,  until  the  Parthians  threat- 
ened to  attack  Rome,  that  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity occurred  for  effecting  the  ruin  of  Ger- 
manicus. That  fierce  and  unconquerable  people 
breaking  the  peace  that  had  been  made  with 
them  during  the  reign  of  Augustus,  invaded 
Armenia,  a  tributary  kingdom  of  the  empire. 
This  was  an  occasion  for  recalling  the  legions 
3* 


30  EMPIRE   OF  EOME. 

Tiberius  separates  Germanicus  from  the  Army. 

of  Germanicus  ;  and  Tiberius  procuring  him  a 
triumph  for  his  victories  in  Germany,  wrote  to 
him  to  return,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  honors  that 
had  been  decreed  to  him  by  the  Senate.  He 
also  complimented  him  upon  his  achievements, 
telling  him  that  he  had  reaped  glory  enough  in 
a  country  where  he  had  ever  been  victorious. 
In  reply,  Germanicus  earnestly  entreated  the 
continuance  of  his  command  for  one  year 
longer,  in  order  that  he  might  finish  the  enter- 
prises that  he  had  begun.  But  the  cunning 
Tiberius,  intent  upon  the  accomplishment  of  his 
base  design,  offered  Germanicus  the  consulship, 
and  requested  him  to  execute  the  office  in  per- 
son. 

Germanicus,  although  he  probably  under- 
stood the  motive  of  the  emperor,  delayed  no 
longer  to  obey  his  wishes,  and  accordingly  set 
out  for  Home.  Great  multitudes  of  people 
went  out  to  meet  him,  and  as  he  entered  the 
city,  accompanied,  in  a  chariot,  by  his  wife  and 
children,  the  people  were  thrown  into  a  frenzy 
of  joy  and  admiration ;  and  Tiberius  himself, 
though  extremely  jealous,  feigning  to  join  in 
the  general  rejoicing,  gave,  in  the  name  of 
Germanicus,  three  hundred  sesterces  to  each  of 
the  citizens. 

The  real  aim  of  Tiberius,  in  raising  German!- 


BE<;INNMX<;  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      31 

lie  instigates  Piso  to  destroy  Germanicus. 

cus  to  the  consulship,  was,  first  to  separate  him 
from  his  army,  and  then,  as  soon  as  possible,  to 
get  him  far  away  from  Rome,  where  his  popu- 
larity was  now  so  hateful  to  him.  It  was  easy 
enough  for  him  to  do  this,  even  in  a  way  that 
could  not  be  wholly  disagreeable  to  Germani- 
cus. The  Roman  Empire  was  vast,  and  its  in- 
terest oftentimes  demanded  the  presence  of 
wise  and  prudent  men,  at  great  distances  from 
the  capital.  At  this  particular  time  there  was 
difficulty,  not  only  with  the  Parthians,  but  with 
the  people  of  Comagena  and  Cilicia ;  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Syria  and  Judea,  overburdened 
with  taxes,  were  making  earnest  supplications 
for  redress.  To  be  intrusted  with  the  manage- 
ment of  these  important  matters  was  no  small 
honor,  and  Germanicus  could  not  therefore  re- 
fuse the  offer  of  the  government  of  the  prov- 
inces of  Asia.  It  was  decreed  to  him  then, 
with  even  greater  powers  than  had  been  granted 
to  any  previous  governor.  But  the  malicious 
Tiberius,  intent  upon  the  destruction  of  his  vic- 
tim, had  sent,  as  governor,  into  Syria,  one 
Cneius  Piso,  a  man  well  chosen  for  his  wicked 
purposes ;  and  to  this  person  he  had  given  se- 
cret instructions  to  oppose  Germanicus  upon 
every  occasion,  and  even  to  procure  his  death, 
if  he  could  accomplish  it  without  suspicion. 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 


Machinations  of  Piso. 


Accepting  his  appointment,  Germanicus  set 
out,  with  his  wife  and  children,  for  his  Eastern 
expedition,  and,  arriving  within  the  territories 
intrusted  to  his  care,  undertook  to  settle  the 
difficulties  existing  between  them  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  Home.  In  the  mean  time  the 
wicked  Piso  watched  him  closely,  and  endeav- 
ored to  throw  various  impediments  in  the  way  of 
his  success.  But  Germanicus,  notwithstanding 
every  obstacle,  soon  succeeded  in  bringing  Ci- 
licia  and  Comagena  into  obedience  to  Koine; 
also  in  obliging  the  king  <»f  Parthia  to  sue  for 
peace.  Still  Piso  did  not  cease  to  do  all  in  his 
power  to  injure  the  favorite  general  of  the  Ro- 
man pi'oplo.  He  openly  censured  all  his  ]>m- 
(vi>. lings  and  sought  every  opportunity  to  cast 
ivpmach  ii] inn  him.  His  base  conduct  did 
not,  however,  meet  with  retaliation  on  the  part 
of  Germanicus.  This  most  noble  person  op- 
posed him  only  with  patience  and  condescen- 
sion ;  and  when,  at  last,  he  found  it  impossible 
otherwise  to  avoid  his  machinations,  as  well  as 
those  of  Placina,  the  wife  of  Piso,  he  made  a 
voyage  into  Egypt,  under  a  pretence  of  view- 
ing the  celebrated  antiquities  of  that  country. 
Here  he  remained  as  long  as  the  duties  of  his 
office  would  permit;  and  then  returning,  fell 
suddenly  and  dangerously  sick.  It  now  oc- 


BEGINNING  OF  TIIK  KM  PIKE.      33 

The  baseness  of  Piso  and  Placina. 

curred  to  him  that  his  sickness  wa<  due  to  the 
treachery  of  Piso,  and,  hoping  that  he  might 
yet  recover,  he  sent  word  to  this  infamous  man 
that  all  connection  must  at  once  cease  between 
them.  A  short  interval  of  convalescence  gave 
BO  much  Bnoovagement  to  his  friends  that  they 
and  the  citizens  of  Antioch  prepared  to  oiler 
sacrifices  for  his  recovery ;  but  even  these 
solemnities  were  not  tolerated  by  the  abomina- 
ble Piso,  who  sent  his  lictors  to  drive  the  vic- 
tims from  the  very  foot  of  the  altars. 

The  hopes  of  Germanicus  and  of  his  friends 
were  not  destined  to  be  realized.  Piso  and  his 
wicked  wife  Placina,  had  been  but  too  success- 
ful in  their  attempts  upon  his  life ;  and  the  day 
iinally  arrived  when  he  was  forced  to  meet  his 
approaching  end.  His  weeping  friends  gath- 
ered around  his  bedside,  and  to  them  he  de- 
clared that  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  devices 
of  Piso  and  Placina.  "  Let  the  emperor  know, 
I  conjure  you,"  said  he,  "  the  manner  of  my 
death,  and  the  tortures  I  endure.  Those  who 
loved  me  when  living,  those  even  who  envied 
my  fortune,  will  feel  some  regret  when  they 
hear  that  a  soldier,  who  had  so  often  escaped 
the  rage  of  the  enemy,  has  fallen  a  sacrifice  to 
the  rage  of  a  woman.  Plead,  then,  my  cause 
before  the  people ;  you  will  be  heard  with 


34:  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

Death  of  Germanicus — Indignation  of  the  People. 

pity :  and  if  my  murderers  should  pretend  to 
have  acted  by  command,  they  will  either  re- 
ceive no  credit  or  no  pardon."  With  these 
words  lie  stretched  forth  his  hands  to  his  weep- 
ing friends,  who  all  vowed  that  they  would 
sooner  lose  their  lives  than  their  revenge. 

When  news  of  the  death  of  Germanicus 
was  brought  to  Rome,  the  whole  city  was 
thrown  into  the  utmost  distress.  A  stop  was 
put  to  every  kind  of  business,  public  and  pri- 
vate ;  the  streets  resounded  with  lamentations, 
and  the  people,  as  if  incensed  against  their 
gods  on  account  of  this  calamity,  cast  stones 
at  their  sacred  temples,  and  threw  down  their 
very  altars.  In  a  little  time  it  was  reported 
that  Germanicus  had  been  poisoned  through 
the  artifices  of  Piso  and  his  wife  Placina.  Im- 
mediately the  greatest  indignation  prevailed 
against  these  persons,  as  well  as  against  the 
emperor  himself,  at  whose  instigation  it  was 
thought  that. the  crime  had  been  committed. 
And  when  Agrippina,  the  widow  of  Germani- 
cus, on  her  return  home,  approached  the  city, 
the  whole  body  of  the  people  went  out  to  meet 
her,  with  a  strange  mixture  of  sorrow  and  ac- 
clamation. The  ceremony  of  entombing  the 
ashes  of  Germanicus  was  regarded  in  profound 
silence  ;  but  it  was  no  sooner  done,  than  the 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      35 

Piso  destroys  bis  own  life. 

whole  multitude  broke  out  in  loud  lamenta- 
tions, crying  that  the  commonwealth  was  now 
in>  longer. 

Tiberius  used  all  his  art  to  conceal  the  cha- 
grin which  he  experienced  at  this  excessive 
sorrow  of  the  people,  and  even  made  a  show 
of  sharing  in  the  general  calamity.  He  aUo 
permitted  the  accusation  of  Piso,  who,  finding 
that  nothing  could  save  him  lYoin  the  indigna- 
tion ot'  the  people,  dispatched  himself  with  his 
own  hand.  Placina  his  wife,  suffered  subse- 
quently the  punishment  due  to  her  crime. 

About  a  year  after  this  event,  Tiberius  took 
A-n  son  Dnisns  as  a  colleague  with  him  in 
the  consulship,  and,  in  order  to  accustom  him 
to  business  left  to  him,  almost  entirely,  the 
rnment  of  the  city.  Having  reached  the 
ninth  year  of  his  reign,  this  wicked  monarch, 
who  now  had  no  object  of  jealousy  to  restrain 
him,  began  to  exhibit  his  real  character  more 
openly.  Assuming  to  himself  the  interpreta- 
tion and  enforcement  of  the  laws,  he  soon 
a  general  gloom  over  the  city,  by  his  acts  of 
cruelty  and  tyranny.  One  of  the  first  of  his 
victims  was  Cremutus  Cordus,  a  brave  man, 
who  defeated  his  malice,  by  putting  an  end  to 
his  own  life.  But  Tibeiius  found  his  match  for 
dissimulation  in  a  Roman  knight  named  Seja- 


36  EMPIRE  OF   HUME. 

The  ambition  of  Sejanns. 

nus,  who  contrived  to  gain  his  confidence,  arid 
lii i ally  to  bring  upon  him  a  great  amount  of 
Buffering. 

This  subtle,  bold,  and  ambitious  man  obtain- 
ed, by  degrees,  almost  entire  control  over  Tibe- 
rius ;  and  the  servile  senators,  fearful  of  his 
power,  and  willing  to  preserve  the  favor  of  the 
emperor,  did  every  thing  to  please  him.  Jlis 
statues  were  set  up  by  the  side  of  those  of  Tibe- 
rius, and  the  greatest  eauvniess  was  manifested 
t<»  pay  him  equal  honors. 

Every  day  he  grew  more  and  more  in  the 
favor  of  the  emperor,  and,  at  last,  thinking  him- 
selt':-trong  enough,  lie  ventured  to  aspire  to  the 
thn>ne.  But  this,  of  course,  he  could  not  attain 
so  long  as  Tiberius  or  his  heirs  were  living; 
and  judging  correctly  that  the  heirs  of  the  em- 
peror could  be  disposed  of  more  easily  before, 
than  after,  the  destruction  of  the  emperor  him- 
self, he  took  his  measures  accordingly,  and  soon 
brought  about  the  death  of  Drusus,  the  empe- 
ror's son.  This'  was  a  terrible  blow  to  Tiberius, 
yet  he  bore  it  with  great  composure,  and  did 
not  for  a  moment  suspect  the  cause  of  it.  But 
there  were  others  besides  Drusus  in  the  way  of 
Sejanus.  The  children  of  Germanicus  must 
also  be  disposed  of,  in  order  that  he  might  at- 
tain his  wishes;  and  his  next  attempt  was  to 


OINNIX1  H  i-:    K  M  i' i  i:  B.       -7 

Scjanus  persuades  Tiberias  to  remove  from  1 : 

-ut  their  ruin.  Ihit  finding  thorn  close- 
ly Balded  by  their  mother  Airrippina,  he  could 
not  immediately  accomplish  liis  .  and 

therefore  undert'  rsuade  Til »erius  to  re- 

tire  t«»    >ome    airreeable    n-tivat,    remote    from 
In    this    way    he    expected    t"    «lerive 
many  advantages,  since  there  could  be  no  ac- 

pfl   tlimii^li  him.      He 
.••I  nn-ncces-t'nl  in  bis  attempt.     Til 

v   c-miviiK-ed   that    lite   would    be    far 

iiiMn  .  himself  if  he  could  be   five 

fruni  the  'I  \e\ati. .ns  ,,f  Idleness  ;   and, 

i-din^ly,  in  the  twelfth  year  <»f  his  rei^n,  at 

the  in-taiuv  «-f  Sejanus,  he  left  Rome  and  : 

•iirned.     Th«'   sjx.t   which    he 
for  i,  nent  was  the  little   island  <>f  Ca- 

o  to  Naples,  and  about  three  miles 
the  main  land.     Here,  utterly  re- 
LrardK'--  <»f  the  welfare  of  his  i-mi  .iban- 

douod  himself  to  the  most  shameful  pleasures. 
Nothing  seemed  to  move  him — not  even  the 
insurrection  of  the  Jews,  which  followed  the 
erection  of  his  statue  in  .Jeru-alem,  nor  the  fall- 
ing of  the  amphitheatre  at  Fidenae,  by  which 
iifty  thousand  persons  were  either  killed  or 
wounded. 

While  Tiberius  was  thus  passing  bis  life  in 
excesses  of  every  kind,  his  favorite,  Sejanua 
4 


38  EMPIRE  OF  BOME. 

He  accomplishes  the  death  of  the  children  of  Germanicus. 

was  intent  upon  the  accomplishment  of  the 
plan  which  he  had  devised  for  getting  posses- 
sion of  the  throne.  The  cruel  and  jealous  dis- 
position of  the  emperor  was  made  subservient 
to  his  purpose ;  and  every  day  he  strengthened 
liis  power,  through  the  terror  which  he  was 
able  to  inspire.  Secret  spies  and  informers 
were  placed  by  him  in  every  part  of  the  city, 
and  in  this  way  he  managed  to  get  rid  of  those 
who  were  either  so  bold  or  so  imprudent  as  to 
manifest  any  displeasure  at  his  acts.  Having 
constantly  in  view  the  destruction  of  the  chil- 
divn  of  Germanicus,  he  sought  every  opportu- 
nity to  render  them  obnoxious  to  Tiberius;  and 
finally,  by  means  of  false  reports  circulated  by 
his  command,  he  succeeded  in  causing  them  to 
be  declared  enemies  of  the  State.  The  two 
princes  were  accordingly  arrested,  thrown  into 
prison,  and  starved  to  death,  while  their  mother 
Agripphui  was  sent  into  banishment 

Had  his  cruelty  ceased  here,  he  might  have 
succeeded  in  his  infamous  design.  But  with 
such  a  high  hand  did  he  wield  a  power  which 
was  not  strictly  his  own,  that  he  at  last  encoun- 
tered some  one  who  had  sufficient  boldness  to 
call  him  to  account.  This  was  Satrius  Secun- 
dus,  a  man  of  great  resolution,  who  accused 
him  to  the  emperor.  The  charge  was  seconded 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      39 

The  designs  of  Sejaims  , . 

by  Antonia,  the  mother  of  Germanic-us ;  and 
Tiberius,  being  well  convinced  of  the  treachery 
of  his  favorite,  took  immediate  steps  to  bring 
him  to  punishment.  But  so  strong  was  the 
habit  of  dissimulation  with  Tiberius,  that  he 
could  not  proceed,  even  in  such  a  matter,  with- 
out indulging  it.  Granting,  accordingly,  new 
and  great  honors  to  Sejanus,  lie  caused  him  a 
moment  afterwards  to  be  confounded,  by  or- 
dering the  Senate  t«>  cast  him  into  prison.  And 
the  Senate,  eager  to  comply  with  the  royal 
mandate,  not  only  placed  the  unhappy  wi 
in  prison,  but  directed  that  he  should  be  forth- 
with executed. 

The  sudden  downfall  of  a  man  who  had  been 
at  such  a  height  of  power,  could  not  be  wit- 
nes-ed  without  emotion.  The  whole  city  was 
immediately  in  agitation,  and  unmistakable 
evidence  was  given  on  every  hand  that  Seja- 
nus, notwithstanding  the  adulation  so  freely 
offered  him,  was  held  in  the  greatest  odium. 
As  he  was  led  to  execution,  the  people  loaded 
him  with  insult  and  execration;  and  when  he 
attempted  to  hide  his  face  with  his  hands,  they 
prevented  him,  and  even  tied  his  hands  behind 
his  back.  His  statues  were  thrown  down  from 
their  pedestals,  and  he  himself  was  shortly  after 
strangled  by  the  common  executioner.  Nor 


40  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Punishment  of  Sejanus. 

was  his  death  sufficient  to  appease  the  enraged 
populace  ;  his  body  was  ignoininiously  dragged 
about  the  streets,  and  his  whole  family  exter- 
minated with  him. 

But  in  escaping  the  cruelty  of  Sejanus,  the 
people  of  Rome  found  themselves  none  the  less 
miserable  under  the  tyranny  of  Tiberius.  This 
blood-thirsty  monster  caused  the  prisons  to  be 
filled  at  once  by  those  whom  he  pretended 
were  the  accomplices  of  Sejanus,  and  numbers 
of  the  most  illustrious,  of  all  ages  and  of  both 
.  became  the  victims  of  his  diabolical  pas- 
sions. The  whole  city  was  filled  with  slaugh- 
ter and  Humming.  Dead  bodies  lay  putrefy  in  g 
in  heaps  around  the  place  of  execution,  and 
the  friends  of  the  wretched  victims  were  not 
permitted  the  sad  satisfaction  of  weeping  over 
those  whom  they  loved.  "Let  them  hate  me  !'' 
exclaimed  the  brutal  tyrant,  "so  long  as  they 
obey  me  !" 

During  all  this  time  Tiberius  was  still  in  his 
at  at  Caprea,  indulging  in  his  pleasures, 
and  issuing  his  cruel  orders  to  his  minions  in 
the  capital.  Frequently  he  commanded  the 
victims  of  his  cruelties  to  be  brought  to  his 
abode,  and  tortured  before  his  eyes.  But  he 
was  not  free  from  suffering  himself.  His  own 
suspicions  were  a  continual  torment  to  him ; 


BEGINNING  OF  THK  KMPIRE.      41 


hod  condition  of  Tiberius. 


JUKI,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  the  Senate,  lie  con- 
fessed that  the  gods  and  godde^e-  had  so  af- 
flicted and  confounded  him,  that  he  knew  not 
how  or  what  to  write.  \l\<  bodily  atHic1 

rible.     AVith  a  face  broken  out 
with  ulcers  and  covered  over  with  ] 

lean  and  bent,  ami  a  bald  and  icri/y.ly 
pate,  he  presented  a  very  loathsome  spec:.- 

\vr,  hated  and  de<j>i-ed  him. 
1*1 1 e  Senate  j>l<>ivd  against  him,  the  peoph-  re- 
viled him.  and  his  greatest  favorites  dreaded 
him,  because  in  constant  uncertainty  of  their 

v  si  \tv-M -veil  years  of  age,  and  as  much  a 
torment  to  himself  as  he  wa<  a  subject  of  odium 
to  the  world,  he  finally  beiran  to  think  of  his 

'ut ion,  and  the  appointment  of  a  successor. 

:  much  hesitation  lie  selected  Caligula,  one 
of  the  sons  of  (iermaiiicus,  and  a  young  man, 
who-.  doubtless,  more  than  any  thing 

else,  recommended  him  to  the  favor  of  this  in- 
famous monarch.  But,  a  dissembler  to  the  last, 
lie  pretended  to  be  still  strong  and  well,  when 
lie  knew  that  his  end  was  rapidly  approaching; 
and  even  when  he  could  scarcely  maintain  a 
sitting  posture,  continued  to  receive  his  guests, 
and  to  protest  that  he  was  in  perfect  health. 

It  was  while  making  an  effort  to  read  the  acts 
40 


4:2  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Death  of  Tiberiua 

of  the  Senate,  that  he,  at  last,  fell  senseless  to 
the  floor. 

The  friends  of  Caligula,  thinking  the  emperor 
dead,  advised  him  to  prepare  to  secure  the  suc- 
cession. The  congratulations  of  the  court  were 
tendered  to  him,  and  he  caused  himself  to  be 
acknowledged  by  the  Praetorian  soldier.-,  and 
went  forth  from  the  emperor's  apartments 
amidst  tho  acclamations  of  the  multitude.  ]*ut 
during  all  this,  Tiberius  suddenly  recovered, 
and  asked  i'.>r  something  to  eat.  The  whole 
court  was  iillcd  with  terror  by  this  unexpected 
change.  All  resumed  their  pretended  sorrow, 
and  left  the  new  emperor  in  order  to  ma: 
their  solicitude  for  the  old.  Caligula,  thunder- 
struck, n<  led  death  instead  of  an  em- 
pire, and,  not  knowing  what  to  do,  stood  gazing 
upon  the  scene  in  gloomy  silence.  His  com- 
panions, however,  Imping  to  gain  more  from 
him  than  from  the  dying  emperor,  soon  came 
to  his  relief.  Gathering  around  the  couch  of 
Tiberius,  they  strangled  the  wretched  man  to 
death. 

It  was  during  the  eighteenth  year  of  this 
wicked  monarch's  life  that  Jesus  Christ  suf- 
fered crucifixion.  Not  long  after  his  passion, 
Tiberius  received  a  letter  from  Pilate,  the  gov- 
ernor of  Judea,  containing  an  account  of  the 


i  UK    K  M  I'l  KK.          4.°> 
i  ina. 

death,  re-unv  '  tin*  Saviour. 

This  letter  he  communicated  to  the  Senatr. 
siring  them  to  enrol  <  nong  the  number 

of  the   Koman  p'tl-.     Jiut,  becau-e  the  propo- 
i    had   n«»t  nri^inatfJ   among   tin 
-.-nate   n  •  <!«>  this,  alleinn^  an    an- 

cient law  wli:  them   the  supervision  of 

all  n  To  show  their  opposition 

^till    farther,    they   even    commanded    that  all 
•uld  leave  the  city.      T.ut  Tiberius 
thwarted  thU  unju-tiliable   measure,  by  threat- 
eiiini;  with  death  any  one  who  should  attempt 
.  and  for  this  act  Christianity  might 
have  ranked  him  among  i  .  had  not 

.iole  life  been  such  a  disgrace  to  humanity. 


CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDIUS. 

FROM  37   TO   55   A.  D. 


CALIGULA'S  reception  at  Rome — He  begins  to  reign  well — 
His  first  acts  of  Cruelty — The  absurd  worship  paid  to  him 
— The  honors  which  he  bestowed  upon  his  horse — The  fa- 
mous Bridge  of  Puteoli — Caligula's  mode  of  obtaining  money 
— His  expedition  against  the  Germans  and  Britons — His  ri- 
diculous conduct  in  Germany — The  conspiracy  of  Cherea — 
Assassination  of  Caligula — Claudius  made  Emperor  by  the 
Army — His  public  works — War  with  the  Britons — Caracta- 
cus  captured  and  taken  to  Rome — Claildius  becomes  indif- 
ferent to  the  Empire — Conspiracies — Revolt  of  Camillus — 
Story  of  Cecina  Fetus — Cruelties  of  Claudius — Death  of  his 
wife — His  marriage  to  Agrippina — Her  schemes  for  securing 
the  empire  for  her  son  Nero — Claudius  poisoned. 


II. 

CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDIUS. 


AT  this  time  the  Romans  lm<l  arrived  at  the 
highest  pitch  of  effeminacy  and  vice.  From 
all  portions  of  the  empire  wealth  had  poured 
into  the  city,  and  with  it  the  luxuries  peculiar 
to  every  country  in  the  world.  Gluttony  was 
reduced  to  a  perfect  system,  and  debaucheries 
of  every  kind  were  practised  openly.  Instead 
of  attending  to  the  welfare  of  the  empire,  the 
senators  themselves  became  devoted  to  the  most 
debasing  pleasures  ;  and  the  people,  if  possible, 
more  corrupt,  seemed  to  abandon  every  kind  of 
labor,  and  to  depend  for  subsistence  upon  any 
thing,  save  what  was  honest  and  manly.  Indo- 
lence became  an  alarming  vice.  Courage  no 
longer  characterized  the  Roman  soldiery,  and 
their  passion  for  glory  was  nearly  extinguished. 
Under  such  circumstances  it  is  not  wonderful 
that  the  history  of  Rome  should  henceforth  ex- 


48  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Caligula  Emperor — His  reception  at  Rome. 

hibit  continual  instances  of  tyranny  on  the  part 
of  the  rulers,  and  of  insubordination  among  the 
people. 

The  reign  of  Caius  Caligula,  the  successor  of 
Tiberius,  although  very  short,  was  more  replete 
with  atrocities  and  abominations  than  that  of 
any  ruler  that  had  yet  preceded  him  in  Rome. 
His  ascent  to  the  throne  was,  however,  an  oc- 
casion of  great  rejoicing  ;  and,  as  he  approach- 
ed the  city  from  Caprea,  witli  the  dead  body 
of  the  late  emperor,  thither  taken  for  interment, 
he  was  received  witli  new  titles  of  honor  by  the 
Senate,  and  declared  sole  successor  to  the  em- 
pire, although  Gemellus,  tlu«  grandson  of  Tibe- 
rius, had  Uvn  h-t't  r.'-lK'ir.  The  people  flocked 
about  him  on  every  side,  pleased  at  being  de- 
livered i'n.m  the  cruelties  of  Tilu'rins,  and 
hoping  new  ad  vantages  from  the  virtues  of 
Caligula.  Xor  were  these  manifestations  of  joy 
confined  to  Rome,  or  even  to  Italy.  They  ox- 
tended  over  the  entire  empire ;  and  the  whole 
world,  in  short/seemed  combined  to  honor  him 
for  qualities  which  he  did  not  in  aiiywiV- 
sess. 

For  several  months,  it  is  true,  Caligula  man- 
aged to  conduct  himself  in  a  very  praiseworthy 
manner.  The  abuses  that  had  crept  into  the 
State,  became  to  him  an  object  of  attention, 


CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDII  49 

Caligula  begins  to  reign  well. 

and  lie  undertook  their  correction,  with  much 
apparent  zeal.  The  institutions  of  Augustus, 
which  had  been  disused  during  the  reign  of 
Tiberius  were  revived.  The  condition  of  the 
I{»man  provinces  wa<  investigated,  and  several 
of  their  governors  removed  on  account  of  the 
corrupt  conduct  of  which  they  were  found 
guilty.  Pontius  Pilate  was  one  of  a  number 
wlmni  lie  banished  into  Gaul;  and  here  this 
unjust  ruler  afterwards  committed  suicide.  A 
great  many  knights  were  driven  from  Rome, 
because  of  their  infamous  crimes;  and  a  multi- 
tude of  abominable  practices  wrere  abolished  by 
his  orders.  The  ancient  manner  of  electing 
magistrates  by  the  suffrages  of  the  people  was 
restored ;  and  some  kings,  wrho  had  been  un- 
justly deprived  of  their  dominions,  were  placed 
again  in  possession  of  them.  For  these  and 
many  similar  acts,  he  did  not  fail  to  receive 
the  highest  praise.  A  shield  of  gold,  bearing 
his  image,  was  ordered  to  be  carried  annually 
to  the  capitol,  attended  by  the  Senate,  and  the 
sons  of  the  nobility ;  and  the  day  on  which  hu 
mounted  the  throne  was  inserted  among  the 
festivals. 

But  this  reign  of  virtue  and  good  sense  was 
of  very  short  duration.      Eight   months   had 
scarcely  elapsed  before  all  his  moderation  and 
6 


50  !PIKE     OF 


His  flrst  acts  of  cruelty. 


clemency  gave  way  to  tlie  most  furious  pas- 
sions, unexampled  avarice,  and  capricious  cru- 
elty. It  is  pretended  by  some  that  his  mind 
became  deranged  by  a  di<Mnlcr  which  hap- 

•[  to  him  a  short  time  alter  his  am 
to  the  throne.     This  may  ivally  have  been  the 
:  and  it  is  very  diilicult  to  account,  other- 
.  I'm-  the  extravagant  cruelties  and  ridicu- 
]ou<  inc<-  dea  that  are  imputed  to  him. 

The  iirst  instance  of  cruelty  related  of  him, 
wa-  in    the   ca-e  of  a  person   named   Politus, 
who.  during  the  sickness  of  the  emperor,  v> 
tlia'  he  w«>uld  .-acrilice  l\\>  n\vn  life  to  the 
if  they  would  restore  him  to  health.     Caligula, 
on  hi-  having  been   informed  of  this 

devotedni->-  of  1'olitus,  actually  compelled  him 
to  fulfil  his  vow.  X,,t  lo.  this,  he 

obliged  (iemellus  C'»-heir  with  him  to  the  em- 
to  kill  himself.  Then  he  put  to  death 
Silenus.  his  own  father-in-law,  and  (Iivcinus, 
a  noted  senator,  who  refu-ed  to  witne.-^  falsely 
again>t  Silenus.  Afier  this,  a  multitude  fell 
victims  to  his  avarice  or  suspicion,  and  among 
them  Macro,  the  very  person  to  whom  he  was 
most  indebted  for  the  empire. 

But  his  vanity  and  extravagance  soon  gave 
rise  to  atrocities  far  surpassing  any  already 
mentioned.  Not  content  with  assuming  the 


CALK;  r  LA    A  N  D   C  LI  r  !>i  us.        51 

The  n  ;>  paid  to  Caligula. 

highest  hunian   titles.   In-  upon  being 

sty  KM!  a  go.j.  and  actually  caused   the  hea»ls  of 

tatues  of  Jupiter  and  of  other  deitie-  bo  he 
struck  otl',  and  his  own  put  in  their  pi, 

nently  he  would  place  hiin-v-lf  between 
the  images  of  and  Pollux,  and  order  all 

who  came  into  their  temple  to  pay  their  homage 
to  him,  in-tcad  of  the-e  divinities.  IK-  evni 
can-ed  a  magnificent  temple  to  be  built  and 
dedicated  to  himself,  and  in  it  placed  his  statue 

!d,  which  was  dressed  every  day  in  cl< 
similar   to   th»»se  worn   by  himself,  and   ad 
by  crowds  of  worshippers.     The  priests  of  this 
U-mple  v,  numerous,  and  the  offitv 

fly  sought  on  account  of  the  exquisite  sac- 
rifices that  were  here  offered  up.  Caligula's 

•,and  his  wile,  were  both  among  the  num- 
ber of  these  pric  ;.  ridiculous  as  it  may 

Necame  one  of  them  himself,  and 
shipped  his  o\m   image.     In  order  to  maintain 

ivtensions  to  divinity,  he  employed  many 
inventions  to  imitate  thunder,  and  would  fre- 
quently defy  Jupiter,  crying  out  to  him,  "  Con- 
quer me,  or  I  will  conquer  you!" 

The  envy  and  detestable  lusts  of  this  infa- 
mous man  seem  almost  incredible,  and  were 
equalled  only  by  his  excessive  prodigality. 
The  luxuries  of  former  monarch s  were  nothing 


52  EMPIRE   OF 

The  Honors  bestowed  by  Caligula  upon  bis 

compared  with  his.     Tin-.  ny  thing 

that   human   ingenuity  could   contrive  for  the 
gratification   •  of  the  sen-cs,  that  lie  did 

not  procure.     Kven  .  1  tasteless  pearls 

>lved  in  the  sauces  which  were  }>laced 
upon  his  table,  and  his  baths  wer-  vd  of 

the  richest  wils  and  most  precious  i 
For  his  favorite  horse  Incitatus.  he  built  ; 

of  marble,  with  a  manger  of  ivory.      lie 

d  Ibr  the-  animal  a  house  tilled  with  <• 
furniture  and  provided  with  a  kitchen,  in  • 
that  all  his  vi-'  •  ated  with  ]•:• 

respe  ;iid   thai  lime-  in- 

IncitatiN  to  dine  at  his  own  table, 
that  i  :  have  appointed  him  to  tin 

sul>hip    lia«l    he   not    been    ])i\-ventr<l    l»y  death. 
Such  if  the  folly  of  this  man,  that  h 

iand    in   the  mi< 

Mount;;'  K-vrlled,  and   plains 

and  valleys  elevated,  only  to  gratify  hi-  \\\ 

-t   ab-urd   j.ircr  of  extra' 
of   which   any  human  beinir  was  ever  iruilty, 

'.ridtire   0  .i,  which 

built  durini:-  the  thinl  year  of  \\\>  rei^n.      l-'or 
the  purpose,  simply,  of  calling  himself  n.: 
of  the  ocran  as  well  as  of  the  land,  he  c:i 
nn  infinite  number  of  >hips  to  be   fa-ti-netl   to 
each   other,  so  as  to   make   a   lloatin^   bridge 


CALIGULA  AND   CLAUDIUS.        53 

The  fkmouB  Bridge  of  Patooli 

:i  to  I'm  -s  an  arm  of  th< 

•:d  a  halt' in  breadth.     These  ships 

::i  two  rows  and  I 

aius,  aii-  'henijm- 

•  •!'  timh.  ::en  laid,  and 

1,  so  that  the 

le  resembled  one  of  the  streets  of  IJ 
;  til  houses,  for  the  reception  of  himself  and 
dants,  were  then  built  upon  it:  and 
when    the   whole   was  completed,   he   ar:-, 
hiniM-lf  in  the  most  u  .  and, 

by  the  great  officers  .inny 

all  tlu-  n..l,ii;ty,  with  a  protli  mlti- 

•d  at  one  end  of  the 
:id  with  ridiculous  importance  ro< 
;hi-r.     At  night  tlie   im: 

torches  and  other  illuminations  withwhich  this 
•  structure  was  adoi  i   up 

A  hole  bay  and  the  surrounding  re. 

^torm,  of  course,  demolished 
less  fabric,  and  in  a  short  time  not  a  v< 
main'  rk  his  folly. 

In  a  link-  more  than  one  year,  the  imm- 

berius  to  M  all  ex- 

vagance,  and  then  to  si: 
his  v  every  species  od 

pine  ,  :i.     All  were  di- 

rected   to   the    n  : i ient   of    his   coi: 


54  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Caligula's  methods  of  obtaining  Money. 

Every  thing  in  Home  was  taxed;  freedmeii 
were  obliged  to  purchase  their  freedom  a  second 
time ;  and  many  who  had  named  him  as  their 
heir,  were  poisoned,  that  he  might  obtain  im- 
mediate possession  of  their  fortunes.  He  even 
caused  a  gambling-table  to  be  kept  in  his  own 
dwelling.  On  a  certain  occasion,  having  been 
very  unlucky,  he  ordered  two  rich  knights  to 
be  apprehended,  and,  conliscating  their  e-tates, 

ted  that  lie  never  made  a  better  throw  in 
all  his  life.  At  <>ne  time  he  complained  open- 
ly of  his  poverty,  and  actually  stood  in  the  door 
nf  his  palace  to  the  donations  of  his 

MibjecK     Certain  prison*  nf  the  highest  qual- 

enturingat  one  time  to  Maine  his  extrava- 

•••.  he  condemned  them  to  dig  in  the  mines, 
and  to  repair  the  highways. 

It  is  too  sickening  to  read  the  follies  and 
cruelties  of  a  monster,  who  could  wish  ''that 
the  people  of  Home  had  but  one  neck,  that  he 
might  dispatch  them  all  at  a  -in^le  blow." 
The  people,  as -a  matter  of  course,  grew  weary 
of  his  intolerable  conduct,  and  conspir. 
were  everywhere  formed  against  him.  The 

piracies  were,  however,  arrested  by  an  ex- 
pedition which  he  projected  against  the  Ger- 
mans and  the  Britons.  For  this  purpose  he 
made  the  most  extensive  preparations.  Im- 


CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDIUS.        55 

xpedition  against  the  Germans  and  Britons. 

•  numbers  of  troops  were  levied,  mid  war- 
like engines  of  every  description  constructed 
f«»r  the  great  campaign.  Every  one  believed, 
from  the  interest  which  he  muni  tested  in  the 
matter,  and  the  energy  which  he  displayed, 
that  he  would,  at  hist,  do  something  for  the 
glory  of  his  own  mime  and  that  of  the  Roman. 
people. 

In  due  season  the  great  army  set  out  from 
Rome,  with  Caligula  at  their  head.  But  such 
was  his  impatience  to  reach  the  countries  which 
he  proposed  to  overrun,  that  his  cohorts  were 
unable  to  carry  along  their  standards.  In  a 
lays,  however,  hi  less  subsided,  and 

tin1  march  continued  then  more  like  a  funeral 
procession.  AYhen,  iinally,  he  arrived  in  Brit- 
ain, ho  merely  gave  refuge  to  one  of  its  ban- 
i>hed  princes,  and  then,  in  a  letter  to  the  Sen- 
'lescribed  the  action,  as  an  achievement  by 
which  he  had  taken  possession  of  the  whole 
island.  After  this,  turning  his  attention  towards 
(iermany,  he  there,  soon  after,  landed  his  victo- 
rious troops.  Arranging  his  engines  and  war- 
like machines  with  great  solemnity  upon  the 
sea-shore,  and  drawing  up  his  troops  in  battle 
array,  he  went  on  board  of  his  galley.  Coast- 
ing up  and  down,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
that  every  thing  was  right,  he  iinally  ordered 


56  EMPIRE  OF  K<>MK. 

absurd  conduct  in  Germany. 

the  trumpets  to  ho  sounded,  and  the  signal  for 
enifjiireinent  to  he  irivcn.  Immediately,  tlie 
troop-,  who  had  been  previously  instructed,  all 
stooped  down  upon  the  shore,  and  be^an  to  till 
their  helmets  with  the  .-hell-  that  lay 
here  and  there.  This  being  done,  he  went  on 
sin -re  airain,  and,  assembling  the  army,  ap- 
plauded them,  in  a  pompous  harangue,  for 
their  irreat  achievement,  ami  caused  it  to  he 
commemorated  by  the  erection  of  a  lofty 

lower. 

Incredible  as  it  may  seem,  the  Senate,  upon 
}\\<  return  to  Koine,  alter  this  piece  of  folly, 
actually  r  him  with  th 

and  spent  a  whole  day  in  ]>rai-inir  his  perfonn- 
-.      lint  the  iviirn  •  •!'  ( 'alii:,,^  NV;l>  o!rawin<r 
to  a  close.     Many  co:  ire  already  ..n 

foot;  but   that   which   was  defined   to  ri«l  the 

1   of  \\i\<  detestable  tyrant,  was  < 
by  Ca-s;:,     '  a.  a  tribune  of  the    Pnetorian 

bands,  and  a  man  of  e\  <1  c.>uraire.  whom 

Caligula  had  takm   every  opportunity  to  ridi- 
cule,   simply    because    he    had    an     effeminate 
•.     Many  of  the  most    illustrious    m« 
8,  actuated   by  revenirc  for  }>ei-sonal  inju- 
:uul  indio-niti,    .  associated  with  him; 

and  the  downfall  of  Caligula  was  hastened  by 
the  appointment  of  Cherea  to  preside  over  the 


CALK  \N  i)  CLATIHI  W 

The  conspiracy  of  Cherea— Assassination  of  Caligula. 

tortu  .iiid   innocent   female, 

for  whom  he  entertained  a  great 

It  wa-  linallv  agreed  among  the 
that  Caligula   should   he    attacked    during  the 
Palatine  which    continued    lour   days. 

JJnt,   tin-.--  without   any 

opportunity  to  carry  out   their  d<  - 

that  the  con-piracy  nii^ht  l»e  di- 
vulged, and  therefore  determined  that  it  should 
voinpli>hrd   on  tiu'  r..llowin«r  day,  at  the 
moment  that  Caligula  was  to  pass  throuirh  a  pri- 
^•allery  to  BOOM  hath-,  not  far  distant  from 
the  pala  -.   thereupon,  sta- 

d     tliein  in    a    suitable    place,    and 

d  with   irreat  patience  tor  a  t;iv.>rahle  mo- 
.     This    linallv   oreunvd.     The    emperor, 
•  mpany  in  which  he  was  eiiji-yin^ 
\vards  the  hath,  and  on  ivach- 
•     occujiied    by    the    con-piratoi*8, 
•  •a    .-pranir    upon    him,    and     crxin^    out, 
"'l'yran%  think  upon  tins!"  struck  him  to  the 
ground.     The  others  imn  rushed  up«.n 

the  wretched  man,  and  di.-j»atched  him,  with 
thirty  wounds. 

Thus,  in   the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his 
and  after  a  reign  of  less  than  four  years,  died 
Cains  Caligula,  one  of  the    g  mongers 

that  ever  ruled  in  Rome.     So  bitter  was  the 


58  EMPIEE  OF  EOME. 

Claudius  made  Emperor  by  the  army. 

hatred  of  the  people  against  him,  that  his  wife 
and  infant  child  were  also  put  to  death :  the 
former  was  stabbed  by  a  centurion,  and  the 
latter  was  dashed  violently  against  a  stone  wall. 
Even  the  money,  which  bore  his  name  and 
likeness,  was  melted  down,  by  a  decree  of  the 
Senate,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  obliterate  his 
memory ;  and  the  Senate,  having  so  long  suf- 
fered by  the  cruelty  of  tyrants,  began  to  con- 
sult together  concerning  the  restoration  of  their 
former  liberty,  and  even  talked  boldly  of  ex- 
tinguishing the  name  of  Caesar.  But  the  very 
first  step  which  they  took  towards  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  design,  created  alarm  among 
the  soldiers  and  the  populace;  and  such  a 
strong  combination  was  immediately  formed 
against  them,  that  many  lives  were  even  sacri- 
ficed before  any  active  measures  had  been 
adopted  on  either  side. 

While  every  thing  was  yet  in  disorder,  and 
neither  the  Senate  nor  the  people  knew  pre- 
cisely what  course  to  take,  some  soldiers,  who 
were  running  about  the  town,  discovered,  acci- 
dentally, an  uncle  of  Caligula,  named  Claudius, 
who  had  secreted  himself  in  a  quiet  place,  fear- 
ing K'.st  his  relationship  to  the  late  emperor 
might  make  him  an  object  of  revenge.  Trem- 
bling from  head  to  foot,  he  was  dragged  from 


CALIGULA  AND   CLAUDIUS.        59 

Public  works  '»f  Claudius. 

his  retirement,  with  no  other  expectation  than 
a  sudden  and  awful  death.  But  the  senseless 
soldiers,  taking  him  upon  their  shoulders,  car- 
ried him  to  the  camp,  and  proclaimed  him  em- 
r.  Xor  w<»nld  tlu-y  listen  to  the  remon- 
strances of  the  Senate,  who,  in  order  to  prevent 
bloodshed,  were  obliged  to  pa—  a  decree  con- 
firming the  election  of  the  military,  also  to  go 
and  pay  their  homage  to  Claudius. 

This  man,  who  thus  nnex] notedly  arrived  at 
the  height  of  power,  was  fifty  years  of 
when  he  began  to  reign.  It  is  said  that  the 
faculties,  both  of  his  body  and  mind,  had  been, 
in  infancy,  so  affected  by  disease,  that  he  was 
wholly  unfit  for  the  position  to  which  he  was 
elevated.  "Whatever  truth  there  may  be  in 
this,  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  commencement 
of  his  reign  promised  much  for  the  people  of 
Koine.  Though  he  caused  Cherea  to  be  put  to 
death,  yet  he  exhibited  a  degree  of  mildne 
his  conduct  which  had  not,  for  a  long  time, 
been  witnessed  in  the  rulers  of  the  empire. 
Justice  was  administered  by  him  with  great 
impartiality;  and  he  was  assiduous  in  hearing 
and  examining  the  complaints  even  of  the 
meanest  of  the  citizens.  Attentive  to  all  the 
wants  of  the  people,  he  kept  the  city  well  sup- 
plied with  corn,  and  all  the  necessaries  of  life; 


60  EMPIRE   OF  KOME. 

His  efforts  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Empire. 

and  the  style  of  building  which  he  encouraged, 
far  surpassed  any  that  had,  hitherto,  been 
adopted.  Through  his  instrumentality,  also,  an 
immense  aqueduct  was  constructed,  by  means 
of  which  water  was  brought  for  the  use  of  the 
city,  from  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  through 
high  mountains  and  over  deep  valleys.  He 
also  made  a  haven  at  Ostia,  at  such  amazing 
expense  that  his  successors  were  unable  to 
maintain  it;  and,  in  order  to  strengthen  the 
current  of  the  river  Tiber,  he  turned  into  its 
channel  the  waters  of  the  Lake  Fucinus. 

Nor  were  the  cares  of  Claudius  directed  to 
the  city  only.  The  most  distant  provinces  en- 
joyed a  share  of  his  attentions.  Whatever 
could  conduce  to  their  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity wa<  eagerly  promoted  by  him;  and  several 
princes  of  kingdoms  dependent  upon  Home, 
who  had  been  unjustly  dispossessed  by  his  pre- 
decessors, were  restored  at  his  command.  The 
cruel  edicts  of  Caligula  were  disannulled,  and 
he  refused  to  receive  the  worship  which  had 
been  offered  to  the  monarch  who  preceded 
him. 

Willing  to  gratify  the  people  by  foreign  con- 
quest, he  made  preparations  for  a  descent  upon 
the  island  of  Britain,  which  had,  now,  for  a 
long  time,  been  left  in  the  undisturbed  posses- 


CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDIUS.       61 

War  with  the  E.  items. 

sion  of  its  inhabitants.  He  had  some  difficulty, 
at  first,  in  overcoming  the  great  aversion  of 
his  soldiers  to  making  war  in  a  country  which 
they  judged  to  be  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
world ;  but  they  finally  embarked,  and  the 
Britons,  under  the  conduct  of  their  king  Cyno- 
belinus,  were  several  times  overthrown.  Clau- 
dius went  to  Britain  himself,  that  he  might,  in 
person,  participate  in  the  honor  of  conquest; 
but  his  stay  was  of  no  longer  duration  than  six- 
teen days,  when  he  returned  to  Rome,  where 
lie  was  received  with  all  the  tributes  which  it 
had  been  customary  to  pay  to  the  most  distin- 
guished conqueror.  Triumphal  arches  wore 
erected  in  his  honor,  and  annual  games  insti- 
tuted to  commemorate  his  victories. 

Plautius  and  Vespasian  in  the  mean  time 
continued  the  war  in  Britain,  and,  after  a  great 
many  very  bloody  battles,  finally  reduced  a 
portion  of  the  island  to  a  Roman  province. 
But  a  new  governor,  named  Ostorius,  having 
been  appointed  to  succeed  Plautius,  the  Britons 
rose  up  in  arms  and  disclaimed  the  Roman 
power.  Another  terrible  war  immediately  en- 
sued. The  Romans,  with  great  difficulty,  main- 
tained the  honor  of  their  arms ;  and,  indeed, 
so  formidable  was  the  resistance  of  the  Silures, 
or  inhabitants  of  South  Wales,  under  their  king 


62  .  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Caractacus  taken  and  sent  to  Rome. 

Caractacus,  that  the  Roman  general  was  nearly 
discouraged.  These  people  removing  the  seat 
of  war  into  the  most  inaccessible  parts  of  their 
country,  defended  themselves  with  the  greatest 
obstinacy,  and  for  the  space  of  nine  years  kept 
the  Romans  in  the  utmost  terror.  Finally, 
Caractacus,  driven  to  extremes,  gathered  to- 
gether a  powerful  army,  hoping,  by  one  deci- 
sive battle,  to  be  able  to  drive  the  invaders 
from  his  shores.  Before  engaging  in  it,  he  ad- 
dressed his  countrymen  with  calm  resolution, 
relating  to  them  the  glorious  deeds  of  their  an- 
cestors, and  telling  them  that  liberty  or  slavery 
depended  upon  their  conduct.  It  was  a  terri- 
ble battle  ;  but  nothing  that  undisciplined  valor 
could  do,  was  of  any  avail  against  the  superior 
skill  of  soldiers  and  generals  trained  to  the  art 
of  war.  The  army  of  Caractacus  was  cut  to 
pieces,  and  the  wife  and  daughter  of  this  heroic 
111:111  were  taken  prisoners.  Caractacus  himself 
was  afterwards  treacherously  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  the  conquerors,  and  sent  as  a  sort  of 
trophy  to  Rome,  where  the  utmost  curiosity 
prevailed  to  see  a  man  who  had,  for  so  many 
years,  braved  the  power  of  the  Roman  arms. 
"Alas!"  cried  he,  as  he  was  led  in  triumph 
through  the  streets  of  the  city,  "  how  is  it  possi- 
ble that  people  possessed  of  such  magnificence 


CALIGULA    AND    CLATDILS.       63 

Claudius  becomes  indifferent  to  the  Empire. 

at  home,  should  think  of  envying  Caractacus 
an  humble  cottage  in  Britain?"  The  citizens 
of  Borne  gazed  at  him  with  astonishment,  as  he 
passed  along  the  street;  they  seemed  unable  to 
realize  the  fact  that  there  was  upon  the  earth  a 
man,  who  could  dare  to  contend  against  a  power 
like  that  of  Rome.  When  he  was  brought  be- 
fore the  emperor,  he  refused  to  sue  for  pity,  as 
did  the  other  captives ;  but  Claudius  had  the 
generosity  to  spare  his  life. 

By  this  victory  of  Ostorius,  the  Britons  were 
very  much  humbled,  but  not  by  any  means 
subdued.  New  revolts  followed  one  another 
in  quick  succession,  and  their  country  was  the 
scene  of  continual  warfare  during  the  whole 
reign  of  Claudius.  The  emperor  himself,  who 
had  commenced  so  well,  began,  in  the  mean 
time,  to  show  less  regard  for  the  public  wel- 
fare, both  at  home  and  abmad.  Feeling,  per- 
haps, his  inability  to  manage  alone  the  affairs 
of  his  empire,  he  left  them  almost  entirely  to 
those  about  him ;  and,  unfortunately,  he  hap- 
pened to  be  surrounded  by  the  most  evil-minded 
persons  in  the  world.  The  chief  of  these  was 
Messalina,  his  wife,  whose  name  has  almost 
become  a  common  term  to  express  female 
profligacy. 

Such  was  the  sway  borne  by  these  insidious 


EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 


Conspiracies — Eevolt  of  Camillas. 


advisers  of  the  feeble  emperor,  that  all  offices, 
dignities,  and  governments  were  entirely  at 
their  disposal.  Cruelties  of  every  kind  were 
also  practised  at  their  command  ;  and  even  the 
family  of  the  emperor  himself,  was  nearly  ex- 
terminated through  their  instrumentality.  As 
a  very  natural  thing,  conspiracies  against  the 
life  of  the  emperor  resulted  from  such  disorders 
in  the  ministers  of  government.  None  of  them 
were,  however,  productive  of  so  much  evil  as 
the  revolt  of  Camillus,  the  lieutenant-governor 
of  Dalmatia.  This  general,  supported  by  many 
of  the  leading  men  of  Rome,  openly  rebelled 
against  the  emperor,  and,  assuming  the  title 
himself,  threw  Claudius  in  the  utmost  conster- 
nation. So  great  indeed  was  his  terror,  that 
when  Camillus  commanded  him,  by  letter,  to 
relinquish  his  empire  and  retire  to  a  private 
station,  he  seemed  actually  inclined  to  obey, 
and,  doubtless,  would  have  obeyed,  had  not  the 
legions  under  the  command  of  Camillus  de- 
serted their  leader  on  account  of  some  remark- 
able prodigies,  by  which  they  were  greatly  ter- 
rified. 

The  scenes  of  horror  which  followed  this 
event  beggar  all  description.  Messalina  and 
her  minions  knew  no  bounds  to  their  cruelty. 
They  wrought  so  upon  the  fears  and  suspicions 


CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDIUS.       65 

Story  of  Cecina  Petus. 

of  the  emperor,  that  numbers  were  executed 
without  trial  or  proof;  and  scarcely  any,  even 
of  those  who  were  barely  suspected,  escaped, 
except  by  the  ransom  of  their  lives  with  their 
fortunes. 

One  of  the  most  affecting  incidents  of  this 
terrible  affair,  was  the  death  of  Cecina  Petus, 
one  of  the  unfortunate  associates  of  Camillus. 
This  illustrious  man,  immediately  after  the 
death  of  Camillus,  had  escaped  with  his  affec- 
tionate wife  Arria,  into  Dalmatia,  where  he 
hoped  to  be  secure  against  the  emperor's  re- 
venge. But  he  was  very  soon  apprehended, 
and  put  on  board  a  ship,  in  order  to  be  con- 
veyed to  Rome.  Arria  begged  earnestly  to  be 
permitted  to  accompany  him,  and  even  offered 
to  perform  the  offices  of  a  slave,  if  she  might 
simply  be  allowed  to  be  near  the  object  of  her 
affections.  It  was  in  vain,  however,  that  she 
used  entreaties ;  she  was  not  suffered  to  come 
on  board  the  ship.  But,  determined  not  to 
be  separated  from  her  beloved  husband,  she 
procured  a  fisherman's  bark,  and  sailed  by 
the  side  of  his  vessel  throughout  the  entire 
voyage.  Arriving  in  Rome,  she  contrived  to 
find  access  to  his  prison,  and  attended  him 
faithfully,  through  a  long  and  painful  illness, 
resulting  from  his  misfortunes.  During  this 


66  EMPIBE  OF  ROME. 


Cruelties  of  Claudius. 


sickness  their  only  son  was  suddenly  attacked 
and  carried  off  by  a  fatal  disorder.  But  even 
this  did  not  diminish  the  care  of  Arria  for  her 
husband ;  she  visited  him  with  as  much  regu- 
larity as  ever,  and  even  managed  to  conceal 
from  him  their  grievous  loss,  restraining  her 
tears,  and,  in  reply  to  the  inquiries  of  Petus, 
saying  that  the  child  was  "  well,"  or  "  happy." 
And  when,  at  length,  the  day  was  fixed,  on 
which  Petus  was  to  die,  she  used  every  art  to 
inspire  him  with  resolution;  but  finding  that 
he  continued  timid  and  wavering,  she  took  a 
poniard,  and,  stabbing  herself  in  his  presence, 
presented  it  to  him,  exclaiming :  "  It  gives  me 
no  pain,  my  Petus !" 

To  such  an  extent  were  the  terrors  of  Clau- 
dius excited  by  Messalina  and  her  favorites, 
that  he  began,  at  length,  to  devote  himself 
wholly  to  the  work  of  slaughter.  Frequently 
the  very  individuals  with  whom  he  was  sup- 
ping, would  be  taken  from  the  table  and  hur- 
ried to  the  place  of  execution,  where  they 
learned,  for  the  first  time,  that  sentence  had 
been  pronounced  upon  them.  Some  histo- 
rians affirm  that  thirty-five  senators,  and  above 
three  hundred  knights  were  executed  during 
his  reign ;  and  such  was  his  unconcern  in  the 
midst  of  cruelty,  that  one  of  his  tribunes  bring- 


CALIGULA  AND  CLAUDIUS        67 

Death  of  Messalina— Claudius  marries  Agrippina, 

ing  him  an  account  of  a  certain  senator  that 
was  executed,  he  owned  that  he  had  quite  for- 
gotten his  offence,  but  calmly  acquiesced  in  his 
punishment. 

In  the  mean  time  Messalina.  his  wife,  con- 
ducted in  such  a  shameful  and  outrageous 
manner  towards  him,  that  he  became  greatly 
enraged,  and  she  was  obliged  to  conceal  her- 
self in  order  to  escape  instant  death.  Many 
of  those  who  had  conspired  with  her  against 
the  honor  and  peace  of  the  emperor,  were  taken 
and  put  to  death;  and  Messalina  herself  was 
finally  discovered,  and  ordered  to  show  the  fal- 
sity of  the  accusations  made  against  her.  She 
i night,  perhaps,  have  made  a  successful  de- 
ilnee,  by  means  of  her  great  influence  over 
Claudius,  had  not  Narcissus,  her  accuser,  under 
pretence  of  having  the  authority  of  the  em- 
peror, given  orders  to  the  tribunes  and  centu- 
rions to  destroy  her  immediately.  The  commaix} 
executed ;  and  when  Claudius  heard  of  her 
death,  he  manifested  no  emotion  of  any  kind 
whatever. 

It  is  said  that  soon  after  this  event,  he  made 
a  public  declaration  that  he  would  continue 
single  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  as  his  mar- 
riage had  been  so  unfortunate ;  but  it  was  not 
long  before  he  espoused  Agrippina,  the  daughter 


68  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Agripplna  secures  the  empire  for  her  son  Nero. 

of  his  brother  Germanicus,  a  woman  who  had 
poisoned  her  former  husband,  and  who,  if  pos- 
sible, was  even  more  wicked  than  the  late  em- 
press. Her  character  was  not  unknown  to 
Claudius ;  but,  having  always  been  under  the 
government  of  women,  he  found  his  new  situa- 
tion irksome. 

As  soon  as  Agrippina  had  become  a  p'art- 
ner  in  the  empire,  she  began  to  contrive  means 
for  setting  aside  the  claims  of  young  Britannicus, 
the  son  of  Claudius  and  for  securing  the  suc- 
cession to  her  own  son  Nero.  For  this  pur- 
pose, a  few  days  after  her  own  marriage,  she 
married  Nero  to  the  emperor's  daughter  Octa- 
via.  and  then  urged  the  emperor  to  make,  in 
imitation  of  his  predecessors,  a  new  adoption, 
advising  him  to  take  Nero  as  his  associate  in 
administering  the  affairs  of  government.  It 
no  diilieult  mutter  for  her  to  succeed  in 
this ;  and  Nero  being  thus  placed  in  the  road 
to  advancement,  she  sought  to  increase  his 
popularity,  by" putting  him  under  the  tutorship 
of  Seneca,  a  man  much  beloved  and  admired 
by  the  people,  for  his  genius  and  strict  morality. 
While  Agrippina  was  thus  doing  so  much 
for  her  own  son,  she  pretended  to  have  n« 
affection  for  Britannicus,  the  son  of  her  hus- 
band, the  emperor.  For  this  young,  man  she 


CALIGULA  AXD  CLAUDIUS.       69 

Agrippina  plots  against  her  Husband. 

oxJiibited,  outwardly,  the  tcnderest  regard, 
while  she  was  secretly  plotting  his  destruction. 
But  as  there  was  no  immediate  neces-itv  \\>r 
putting  him  out  of  the  way,  she  applied  her- 
self, first,  to  the  removal  of  other  and  more 
l'i  innidable  obstacles  to  her  ambition.  Claudius 
c<>uld  not  be  completely  under  her  dominion, 
so  long  as  his  faithful  friend  Narcissus  was  at 
hand  to  warn  and  counsel  him.  Th 
minister,  who  had  already  delivered  his  mas- 
ter frt  -in  the  hands  of  one  abominable  woman, 

•i<>r,  perhaps,  slow  to  caution  him  a^, 
the  devices  uf  another.  Agrippinu  discovered 
that  Claudius  bore  her  tyranny  with  great  re- 
luctance; and  it  was  reported  to  her  that  he 
had  l»eeii  heard  to  say  that  it  was  his  fate  to 
sutler  from  his  wives,  until  forced  to  become 
their  executioner.  Such  a  speech  was  calcu- 
to  alarm  her,  and  she  determined  to  rid 
herself  of  Narcissus,  and  thus  acquire  greater 
influence  over  Claudius. 

Success  attended  her  efforts.  Narcissus,  un- 
able to  counteract  her  designs,  went,  a  voluntary 
exile,  into  Campania;  and  the  poor  emperor 
beheld  himself,  without  a  single  friend,  exposed 
to  all  the  machinations  of  an  insidious  woman. 
Under  these  circumstances,  his  heart  warmed, 
naturally  enough,  towards  his  son  Britaiinicus ; 


70  EMPIRE   OF  EOME. 

Claudius  poisoned. 

and  it  was  perceptible,  every  day,  that  his  af- 
fection for  the  youth  was  steadily  increasing. 
This  served  to  arouse  still  more  the  jealousy  of 
Agrippina.  No  crime  was  now  too  great  for 
her  to  perpetrate  ;  and  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band was  resolved  upon  without  the  least  hesi- 
tation. A  notorious  woman,  named  Locusta, 
was  employed  by  her  to  prepare  a  potent  poison, 
and  to  mix  it  with  the  favorite  food  of  the  em- 
peror. Having  eaten  it,  the  wretched  man 
dropped  down  insensible ;  but  the  dose  did  not 
prove  fatal,  and  he  would  have,  doubtless,  re- 
red  from  its  effects,  had  not  an  abandoned 
physician,  been  directed  to  thrust  a  poisoned 
leather  down  his  thn>at,  under  pretence  of  ma- 
king hi  in  vomit.  This  put  a  period  to  his  life, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  and  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  our  Lord. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  C^SARS, 

FEOM  66  TO  69  A.  D. 


NERO  proclaimed  Emperor — He  begins  his  reign  with 
clemency — His  mother  deprived  of  her  power — Her  efforts 
to  regain  it — Disorderly  conduct  of  Nero — He  plots  against 
his  mother — He  destroys  her — His  passion  for  music — His 
performances  in  the  Circus — His  musical  tour  through 
Greece — His  return — He  causes  Rome  to  be  burned — Perse- 
cution of  the  Christians — Rebuilding  of  Rome — Nero's 
palace — A  conspiracy  against  him — Its  consequences — His 
treatment  of  Seneca — Death  of  Seneca — Further  cruelties — 
The  Britons— The  Jews— Revolt  of  Galba— Nero's  anger— 
His  absurd  preparations  for  war — His  despair — His  flight 
and  death. 


NEED'S  EXPEDITION  TO  GREECE. 


III. 

TllK  LAST  OF  THE  CJESABS, 


NOTWITHSTANDING  the  disastrous  reigns  of  the 
preceding  emperors,  the  Roman  Empire  see 
to  be  in  a  pro.-perous  condition  when  Nero,  tlie 
last  of  the  Caesars,  ascended  the  throne.  The 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  amounted 
to  nearly  seven  millions;  and,  although  there 
were  no  bounds  to  luxury  and  corruption,  the 
military  spirit  of  Rome  still  kept  the  world  in 
awe. 

Nero  did  not  ascend  the  throne,  without  still 
farther  aid  from  his  wicked  mother.  This 
abominable  woman  had  been  told  by  an  astrolo- 
ger that  her  son  would  one  day  be  emperor, 
and  the  cause  of  her  death ;  but  her  reply  was : 
"  Let  him  kill  me,  provided  he  reign ;"  and,  in 
accordance  with  this  strong  desire,  she  left 
nothing  undone  to  place  him  in  J.O-.M— ion  of 
the  sovereign  power.  The  murder  of  her  hus- 


76  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Nero  proclaimed  Emperor. 

band  the  emperor  was,  through,  her  instrumen- 
tality, kept  carefully  concealed ;  and  eveiy 
thing  was  so  adroitly  managed,  that,  before  his 
death  had  become  known  to  the  people,  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  securing  the  election 
of  Nero.  At  the  proper  moment,  this  young 
man,  then  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  accom- 
panied by  Burrhus,  prsefect  of  the  Praetorian 
guard,  appeared  before  the  people  and  the 
army,  as  the  successor  of  the  departed  emperor. 
Glad,  perhaps,  to  be  rid  of  a  man  who  had 
otalilislu'd  his  authority  by  so  many  cruelties, 
they  received  the  young  claimant  for  empire 
with  the  loudest  acclamations,  though  not  with- 
out making  some  inquiries  for  Britannicus. 
By  a  well-concerted  plan,  these  inquiries  wi-iv 
all  silenced;  and  Nero,  having  made  the  most 
Mattering  promises,  after  the  manner  of  his  pre- 
decessors, was  without  difficulty  proclaimed 
emperor  by  the  army,  the  Senate,  and  the 
people. 

Indebted  so  much  to  Agrippina  for  his  em- 
pire, he  submitted,  at  first,  to  her  directions, 
with  the  most  implicit  obedience ;  and  she, 
taking  advantage  of  her  power,  resented,  in  the 
most  terrible  manner,  all  the  offences,  fancied 
or  real,  which  had  been  committed  against  her. 
Si  la  mis,  the  pro-consul  of  Asia,  Narcissus,  the 


LAST    OF    TIIK    C.KSARS.  77 

He  begins  to  reign  with  _riv;it  mildnett. 

favorite  of  her  late  husband,  and  many  others, 
put  to  death  to  gratit'v  her  desire  of  re- 
58.     But  her  cruelties  found  strung  opposi- 
tion in  Seneca  and  Burrhus,  the  tutor  and  gen- 
eral of  Nero,  who  succeeded  in  gaining  him  on 
their  side,  and  in  forming  a  plan  of  g<>\  eminent 
mereiful  and  wise.     So  long,  indeed,  as  Nero 
«-d  to  the  counsels  of  the-e  worthy  men, 
his  reign  eontinued  to  be  a  model  for  succeed- 
ing princes.     During  a  period  of  live  \var-.  he 
no   exhibitions  of  his   innate  depravity. 
Strict  jn-  vat   liberality  and   humanity, 

marke<l  all  his  actions;  and  so  agnvable  were 
his  manners,  that  the  Romans  began  to  praise 
the  gods  for  haying  sent  them  a  prince  who 
would  make  amends  for  the  tyranny  of  those 
who  had  preceded  him. 

But  a  reign  which  commenced  with  so  much 
clemency  was  destined  to  terminate  with  the 
most  barbarous  cruelty.  Agrippina,  the  mother 
of  Nero,  could  not  endure  the  loss  of  p 
which  she  experienced,  in  consequence  of  the 
iniluence  exerted  over  the  young  monarch  by 
his  counsellors,  Seneca  and  Burrhus.  She  de- 
termined, if  possible,  to  regain  her  former  au- 
thority, and,  to  this  end,  resorted  to  every  arti- 
fice. Nero,  encouraged  constantly  to  oppose 

her  cruelties,  deprived  her,  by  degrees,  of  the 
70 


78  IMRE  OF  HOME. 

Nero's  mother  angry  at  her  loss  of  power — Her  efforts  to  regain  1L 

L8  which  .-he  possessed  of  doing  mischief; 
hut.  liuving  gone  s«>  far  as  to  displace  her  chief 
fevorite,  1'allas,  she  fell  into  the  most  ungov- 
ernable i'liry.  and  proclaimed  that  Xero  was  an 
usurper,  and  that  Dritannicus,  the  real  heir  to 
the  throne,  was  still  living,  and  in  a  coin; 
t<>  receive  his  father's  empire.    She  even  threat- 
ened Nero  with   the  declaration  that  she  would 
present  herself  before  the  army,  and  thei 
pose  liis  baseness,  as  well  as  her  own. 

These  menaces  lilled  him  with  alarm.  lie 
knew  very  well  that  the  claims  of  IJritannicus 
to  the  tl,  NT  than  hi-  own; 

hut  he  had  never  bet'nv  thought  of  doing  him 
a  personal  injury.     T:  .  however,  tin. 

cited,   of   losing   his    p&Wer,    h-d    him 
me<litate    the    death    of  JJritannicus,    and    he 
eventually  brought  it  ab«>ut.  by  in.- 
adini:  to  him  at  a  ban. 

Th.mirh    A-'i-ippina  was  thus  de]>rived  of  a 
rt'ul  mean>  <>f  territyinir  her  >«>n  Ni-ro  into 
compliance  with  her  wi>hes.  she  \va<  not  totally 
di>armed.     By  bribing  and    ;'  the  tri- 

bunes and  centurions,  she  endeavored  to  create 

ng,  and  even  succeeded  in  making  h. 
somewhat    formidable   to   him.      The  result  of 
this   Avas,    that    A'ert>    di>banded    the    (-ii-rniau 
guard  which  she  wa-  }»ermitted   to  have  about 


LAST  OF  THE  C.ESARS.  79 

from   the 
•«  Ttain   ]• 

1  her,  hi  mpt 

with  ny. 

ifl  as  if  Nero  was  be- 

••>S  and  less  influenced  by  .  ;i-els 

;  llurrlius.    Alth> 
by   the    former,   with 

liter;-.  1  iniide  acquaint «.•<!,  l»v  tin-   la 

with  cverv  ti. 

.  lu-  lu-iran,  linal- 
he  coin]- 

persons,  and   to   al»andi»n    hiniM-lf  t"   tin- 
•si-s.     IK-  Mviiu-d  t«>  take  a  sti 
'it  in  running  ahout  tlie  city,  l»y  ni- 
tin-  di>^ui-f  nt'  a  .-lave,  and   in  comniittin. 

B96B,  in  which  lu-  not  only  endan- 
1  the  lives  uf  others,  but  also  his  own. 
lid  he  take  any  pains  to 

!,  attributed  it  to 
•  ked  it  for  the  sake  of  his 
liberality  and  kindness  as  a  ruler.     But  t 
of  his  own  a«re  repinled   hint  as  an  example 
worthy  to  imitate,  and  the  city  was,  in  <• 
([uence,  filled  i^ht  with  tumult  and  dis- 

ordt-r. 

i is  of  tli e  rules  of  de- 
cency, Nero  at  length  parsed  to  the  commission 


80  EMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

Bad  influence  of  Poppea— He  plots  against  his  mother. 

of  the  greatest  enormities.  For  some  trifling 
reason,  he  abandoned  his  wife  Octavia,  and 
married  Poppea,  the  wife  of  his  favorite  Otho, 
a  woman  as  much  celebrated  for  beauty  as  she 
was  notorious  for  the  want  of  eveiy  virtue.  At 
this  circumstance  his  mother  Agrippina  pre- 
tended to  be  greatly  shocked ;  and  she  lavished 
the  most  disgraceful  epithets  upon  Poppea. 
She  sought,  also,  by  every  device,  to  gain  the 
favor  of  her  son ;  but  this  was  now  a  more  diffi- 
cult matter  than  before,  for,  in  addition  to  his 
own  disinclination  to  receive  her,  she  had  also 
to  contend  with  the  resentment  of  his  new  wife, 
who  possessed  a  powerful  influence  over  him. 
Tim  nigh  this  infamous  woman,  he  was  doubt- 
less induced,  finally,  to  cause  his  mother's  death. 
He  was  not  yet  so  hardened  in  iniquity  as  to 
proceed  to  such  a  crime  at  once.  Poppea  pre- 
pared him  for  it  by  degrees,  inciting  him,  at 
first,  to  tease  Agrippina  with  lawsuits,  and  to 
employ  mean  people  to  sing  satirical  songs  un- 
der her  windows.  At  last  he  was  induced  to 
believe  that  he  was  not  sure  of  his  throne  so 
long  as  Agrippina  lived ;  and  then  he  resolved 
to  put  her  forever  out  of  his  way.  His  first  at- 
tempt was  by  poison ;  but  Agrippina  kept  her- 
self so  well  fortified  by  antidotes,  that  this  was 
quite  impracticable.  He  then  endeavored  to 


LAST    OF    THE    CAESARS.  81 

He  succeeds  in  destroying  her. 

have  her  drowned  while  upon  an  excursion  to 
the  coast  of  Calabria,  but  failing  in  this  also,  he 
resolved  to  put  her  to  death  openly.  That  a 
deed  so  unnatural  might,  however,  have  some 
appearance  of  justice,  he  caused  a  report  to  be 
circulated  that  Agrippina  had  conspired  against 
him ;  and  a  poniard  was  dropped  at  his  feet  by 
a  person  who  pretended  that  lie  had  been  em- 
ployed by  her  to  assassinate  him.  Nero  en- 
deavored to  get  Seneca  and  Burrhus  to  approve 
of  his  horrible  design.  But  Seneca  would  not 
say  a  word  in  reply  to  his  solicitations,  and 
Burrhus  declared  that  he  would  have  nothing 
to  do  with  such  a  piece  of  enormity. 

At  last  one  of  Nero's  freedmen,  named  Ani- 
cetus,  offered  to  perform  the  dreadful  service; 
and,  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  a  company 
of  soldiers,  he  proceeded  to  the  dwelling  of 
Agrippina.  The  house  was  surrounded,  and  an 
entrance  to  the  apartment  containing  the  un- 
happy woman  having  been  forcibly  effected, 
this  vile  wretch,  accompanied  by  some  mem- 
bers of  his  crew,  found  himself  in  the  presence 
of  his  victim.  Agrippina  knew,  at  once,  that 
her  doom  was  sealed ;  but,  waving  her  hand 
towards  the  ruffians,  she  cried  out :  "  If  you 
come  to  inquire  after  my  health,  you  may  in- 
form the  emperor  that  I  am  better ;  but  if  you 


82  KM  i>  i  K  K  'OF   EOMK. 

Nero's  passion  for  music. 

come  with  any  worse  intention.  YOU  alone,  and 
not  my  son,  must  be  guilty !"  In  reply,  a  club 
was  immediately  dashed  against  her  head,  but 
not  with  fatal  effect.  Anicetus  then  drew  his 
sword,  to  dispatch  her.  Observing  his  action, 
she  tore,  open  her  robe,  and,  presenting  her 
naked  bosom,  exclaimed  :  "  Strike  here,  for  this 
place  gave  nourishment  to  a  m«>n-- 

This  dreadful  deed  was  defended  before  the 

te,  on  the  following  day,  by  Nero  hii 
and  the  Senate  not  only  excused,  but  even  ap- 
plauded it. 

It  seems  strange  that  a  man  who  could  be 
guilty  of  such  an  awful  crime,  should  have  a 
ion  for  arts  that  soften  and  refine  the  heart. 
Thi-  was,  however,  the  case;  and  it  is  • 
said  that  he  had  been  addicted  to  them  from 
IIN  childhood.  The  principles  of  music  were 
among  ],is  earliest  studies;  and,  as  soon  as  he 
;ded  the  throne,  he  placed  himself  under 
the  nio^i  celebrated  masters,  and  submitted, 
with  the  utmost  patience,  to  all  their  instruc- 
tions. Notwithstanding  all  his  assiduity,  he 
still  p'.— e— ed  a  feeble  and  unplea-ant  voice. 
I5ut  a  person  in  his  position  c«>uld  not  fail  to 
lind  tlmse  who  were  ready  to  listen  to  his  tire- 
some performances,  and  to  rank  him  among  the 
finest  musicians  in  the  world. 


1.  ;:s. 

>  one  of  his  favorite 

pmvuits.      It  is  said  tliat  he  never  missed  the 
circus  when  chari  were  to  be  exhibited 

At  fiist  he  attended  in  a  private  way; 
then  he  appeared  publicly;  and,  finally,  1 
tenni.'ied  to  take  a  prominent  part  in  them 
•  If'.  K very  tiling  was  done  by  his  coun- 
sellors Seneca  and  Burrlms,  to  prevent  him 
from 

illy  with  .iirnity  of  his  station;  but 

'•eing  all  in  vai: 

>uud  in  the  valley  of  tlu-  \'ati- 
.\lu-i-e  he  lirst  exhibited  his  teats  of  1 
man -hip  to  a  few  chosen  spectators,  and,  finally, 

1  who  desired  to  attend. 

Not.  oo&tent  with  the  praises  be-t.»\Vi-d  upon 
him  for  tlu-e  performances,  he  determin- 

•he  people  sp  -  of  his  mu-ical  abili- 

and,  with  this  de 

-    called  Juveniles,    at   which   he  ap- 

•d  upon   the  stage,  surrounded  by  ccnturi- 

.nd  tribunes,  and   tuning  his  instrumunt  to 

his   voice,   li'  ajer  of  Ion-  'ence. 

The  ]>i-opK'?  who  were  afraid  to  do  other 

pleasure  at  this  pitiful  ex- 
hibition; and  the  royal  mu>:<  so  much 
gratified  by  their  demonstrations,  that  he  re- 
solved to  make  the  tour  of  his  empire,  and  give 


84  EMPIRE  OF  HOME. 

Ills  expedition  to  Greece. 

everybody  an  opportunity  to  witness  his  skill. 
His  first  exhibition,  after  leaving  Rome,  was 
at  Naples,  the  immense  theatre  of  which  was 
crowded  to  suffocation,  and  then  closed,  so  that 
no  one,  by  leaving  the  place,  might  disturb  the 
great  performer.  The  people,  notwithstanding 
their  eagerness  to  gain  admission,  soon  became 
weary  <>f  the  emperors  wretched  music,  and 
some  of  them  leaped, Stealthily,  from  the  walls, 
or  ]  >retended  to  fall  into  swoons,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  earned  out.  An  old  senator,  named 
a-ian,  barely  escaped  with  his  life,  for 
bring  so  disrespectful  as  to  go  to  sleep. 

It  was  not  very  long  before  reports  of  the 
strange  act  ions  of  the  emperor  reached  Greece; 
and  the   cities  of  that  country  sent   deput! 
Koine,  inviting  him  to  give  them  a  taste  of  his 
musical     perl- -nuances.       These    deputies    >w- 
ceeded  so  well  in  gratifying  his  vanity,  that  he 
prepared,    without    delay,    to   go   int.- 
where  he  -pent  the  whole  of  the   ensuing  year. 
The  retinue  winch   accompanied  him  upon  this 
journey,    resembled    a  vast  army,   but  it   was 
composed   only  of  singers,  dancers,  tailors,  and 
other  attendants  upon  the  theatre.     Thus  6E 
I'd,   he   travelled   throughout   all   the    cities  of 
Greece,  exhibiting  himself  at  their  games,  and 
carrying  off  no  fewer  than  eighteen  hundred 


LAST  OF  THE  C.ESARS.  85 

return  to  Rome. 

awarded   to  him,   it'  not  l»y  merit,  at 
p.     On  his  ivtuni.  lif  entered  Na- 
a  breach  in  the  walls  of  the  city, 
an   honor   which  "nled   to   tho-e  who 

cun.juerors  in  the  Olympic  panics.   But  his 
entrance  into  Rome  was  splendid,  beyond  de- 
ll ere,  dressed  in  purple  r- 
with  wild  olive,  he  made  hi-  aj 

•hariot  of  Augustus.     In  his  <>wn 

hand  he   bore  the   Pythian  chaplet,  while  the 

hundred  crowns  which  had  been  ac- 

1  t«»  him  were  carried  in  advance.     By 

Me  sat  Diodorus,  a  celebrated  n 

and   in   1  followed  a  legion  of  singers, 

who  chanted  in  honor  of  his  victories.     The 

Sena1  j>eople,  filled  the 

air   with    their    acclamations;    all    the   streets 

smoked  with  incense;    victims  were  slain  on 

••  hand  ;  the  pavements  were  strewed  with 

.-atl'ron,  and  g  and  ribbons  were  show- 

upon  the  emperor  from  every  window  as 

he  pa<>ed  al 

Such  were,  for  a  long  time,  the  amusements 
<  >f  Xero ;  but  ling?  eventually,  to  satisfy 

him,  lie  began  a  course  of  extravagance  and 
cruelty,  which  has  placed  his  name  among  the 
first  of  those  who  have  rendered  themselves 
objects  of  an  unmitigated  hatred.  A  recital  of 
8 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 


He  causes  the  city  to  bo  set  on  fire. 


all  his  crimes  would  not  only  be  too  disgusting  to 
read,  but  would  form  a  volume  by  themselves. 
The  brutal  murder  of  his  own  mother  fitted 
him  for  the  commission  of  every  enormity; 
and,  by  turns,  he  destroyed  Domitia,  his  aunt, 
Burrhus,  his  faithful  counsellor,  and  Octavia, 
his  wife.  "  My  predecessors,"  said  he,  on  one 
of  these  occasions,  "  did  not  know  the  rights  of 
monarchy ;  people  may  hate  me,  if  they  only 
fear  mo.*' 

Murder  alone,  failing,  at  last,  to  satisfy  his 
love  of  cruelty,  he  endeavored  to  season  it  by 
different  horrible  accompaniments.  For  the 
purpose  of  gratifying  tins  terrible  appetite,  he 
caused,  on  one  occasion,  the  city  of  Rome  to 
be  set  on  thv  in  >i-\vral  places;  and  then,  dress- 
ing himself  in  the  costume  of  an  actor,  mmi 
one  of  the  highest  towers  of  hi<  palace,  to  enjoy 
the  scone,  and  to  ropeat  :;  a  theatrical 

manner,  upon  the  do-t ruction  of  Troy.  For 
nino  days  this  terrible  fire  continued  to  burn, 
with  the  most  disastrous  effects.  Thousands 
upon  thousands  of  people  were  turned  horn 
and  penniless  in  the  streets.  The  most  beauti- 
ful monuments  of  art  and  of  history  were 
leveled  to  the  dust;  and  the  whole  city  pre- 
sented such  an  aspect  of  wretchedness,  as  it  is 
not  in  the  power  of  language  to  depict. 


LAST  OF  THE  CAESARS.  87 

The  persecution  of  the  Christians. 

JJut  such  a  vast  amount  of  misery  <?<>uld  not 
be  oc  1  without  some  exhibition  of  indig- 

natio-  BO;  and  Nero,  tearing  that 

he  might  have  carried  his  enormities  somewhat 
too  far,  denied  any  a  :iair.  and 

charged  the  whole  guilt  of  it  upon  the  Chris- 
tians, wlio  were  now  becoming  quite  numerous 
in  Rome.  In  aence  of  this  false  ace 

tion,  the  most  terrible  persecution  v 
menced  again-f  theso  unfortunate  and  inn< 
Nothing  could  exceed  the  crue' 
the  treatment  whu-li  they  received  at  the  hands 
of  this    hearth-^    wretch.      Throughout   every 
portion  of  the  city  tl:  huntvd  like  wild 

-  :  and  many  of  them,  actually  dre-sed  in 
the  si  limals,  were  forced  into  t 

of  furious  dogs,  who  killed  and  devoured  them. 
Some  were  crucified,  and  others  were  burned 
alive.  At  times  the  whole  city  would  be 
lighted  by  the  fagots  that  were  kindled  about 
the  bodies  of  these  unhappy  beings;  while  the 
emperor,  dressed  up  like  a  cliari- 
himself  with  their  tortures.  It  was  during  this 
terrible  persecution  that  St.  Paul  was  beheaded, 
and  St.  Peter  crucified,  with  his  head  down- 
ward. 

But  this  barbarous  treatment  of  the  Chris- 
tians did  not  serve  to  rid  the  emperor  of  the 


88  EMPIRE    OF   ROME. 

Rebuilding  of  Eotne — Nero's  palace. 

suspicion,  that  the  conflagration  of  Rome  was 
the  work  of  nis  own  hands ;  and  well  aware 
that  everybody  believed  him  to  be  the  author 
of  it,  he  endeavored,  if  possible,  to  establish 
his  innocence,  by  causing  the  city  to  be  rebuilt 
in  a  far  more  splendid  manner  than  it  was  be- 
fore. The  work  went  on  with  the  greatest 
rapidity,  and  Rome,  in  the  end,  became  more 
magnificent  than  ever ;  but  nothing  could  ex- 
ceed in  splendor  the  new  palace  of  Nero. 
Such  was  its  extent,  that  within  its  very  walls 
were  inclosed  parks,  lakes,  and  vineyards.  The 
apartments  were  adorned  with  the  richest  metals 
and  the  most  precious  jewels.  The  ceiling  of 
the  principal  chamber  was  movable,  turning 
around  in  imitation  of  the  starry  firmament; 
and  tile  I'litrance  to  the  palace  was  so  spacious, 
as  to  admit  a  colossal  statue  of  the  emperor 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  height.  But 
when  this  magnificent  building  was  completed, 
Nero  took  possession  of  it  with  the  very  quiet 
observation  that,  now,  he  was  lodged  like  a 
man. 

The  rebuilding  of  Rome,  and  especially  of 
the  palace  of  Nero,  was  not  accomplished  with- 
out extortions  of  every  kind,  and  in  every  direc- 
tion ;  still  his  subjects,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Christians,  had  comparatively  little  to  com- 


LAST  OF   THE   C^SARS.  89 

•'quences  of  the  conspiracy  against  Nero. 

plain  of  liis  cruelties.  These  cruelties  had 
been,  hitherto,  chiefly  confined  to  his  own 
kindred ;  but,  at  length,  the  discovery  of  a 
•iracy  formed  against  him,  caused  his  bru- 
tality to  be  felt  on  every  hand.  Many  of  the 
principal  families  of  Rome  were  engaged  in 
this  conspiracy,  and,  consequently,  a  -rear  num- 
ber of  the  chief  men  of  the  city  fell  victin 
his  wrath.  Among  these  was  the  celeb  rat  CM! 
poet,  Lucan ;  also,  the  famous  philosopher, 
ca,  who  had  always  been  the  friend  and 
faithful  counsellor  of  Nero. 

It  is  true  that  Seneca,  after  vainly  endeav- 
oring to  correct  the  evil  propensities  of  the 
emperor,  had  virtually  withdrawn  the  assistance 
of  his  valuable  advice,  by  retiring  from  court 
into  solitude  and  privacy  ;  but  it  is  by  no  means 
certain  that  he  was  of  the  number  of  those  who 
plotted  against  his  life.  Nero,  however,  either 
because  he  believed  him  guilty,  or  for  the  sake 
of  his  wealth,  or  on  account  of  the  hatred  of 
his  virtues,  determined  upon  his  death,  and, 
accordingly,  sent  a  tribune  to  notify  him  that 
he  was  suspected  of  being  concerned  in  the 
conspiracy.  Seneca  received  the  tribune,  and 
listened  to  his  communication  without  the 
slightest  exhibition  of  fear;  and  this  was 
reported  to  the  cruel  emperor,  who  immedi- 


90  EMPIRE   OF   ROME. 

Nero's  treatment  of  Seneca — Death  of  Seneca — Fuither  cruelties. 

ately  cried  out:  "Then  go  to  him  again,  and 
give  him  my  orders  to  die !" 

But  even  this  terrible  command  had  no  effect 
upon  the  calmness  of  Seneca.  He  simply 
asked  permission  to  make  some  alterations  in 
his  will,  in  favor  of  some  friends  who  happened 
to  be  with  him  at  the  time.  This  privilege  be- 
ing, however  refused  to  him,  he  turned  to  his 
friends  and  said:  "Since  I  am  not  permitted 
to  leave  vim  any  marks  of  my  affection,  at 
least  I  leave  you  one  legacy,  more  precious 
than  all  the  rest — my  examp! 

The  only  favor  which  ^Xero  was  willing  to 
grant  to  Seneca,  was  the  choice  of  the  manner 
of  his  death.  The  philosopher,  accordingly, 
ean-ed  hi-  vi-ins  to  be  opened  :  but. impatient 
at  the  slowness  of  the  operation,  he  demanded 
poison  ;  and  this  Wing  also  tardy  in  its  elfect, 
as  finally  di-owm-d  in  a  warm  bath.  It  is 
Faid  that  during  li\<  Hillerings  he  dictated  a 
discourse  to  his  seeretary,  which  was  afterwards 
read  with  the"  utmost  eagerness  by  the  people, 
who  held  Seneca  in  the  greatest  reverence. 

The  consequence  of  this  conspiracy  against 
Nero  was  to  fill  the  whole  city  with  slaugh- 
ter, and  i rightful  instances  of  treason.  Every- 
where people  took  advantage  of  it,  to  avenge 
themselves  of  private  injuries.  Slaves  accused 


LAST   OF    i  ESARS.  91 

Queen  Boatlice*— Tl.e  Jews. 

their  masters  of  being  concerned  in  it; and  in 

.iklren  v,  enough  to  make 

it  instniinental  in   causing  the  destruction  of 

their   parents.      All    the    country  surrounding 

as  occupied  by  soldiers,  who  were  in 
pursuit  of  the  suspected  and  the  guilty,  and 
crowds  of  wretches,  loaded  with  chains  were, 
every  day,  Id-ought  up  to  the  palace  gates  to 

.eir  sentence  from  the  bloody  tyrant, 
who  to«>k  a  peculiar  plea-ure  in  pronouncing  it 
with  his  own  lips. 

The  Roman  governors  in  the  different  prov- 
inces of  the  Empire  seemed  to  be  more  «>r 
leas  influenced  by  the  terrible  example  of  the 
emperor;  and,  in  some  instances,  their  crucl- 

so  great  as  to  cause  open  revolt  on  the 
part  of  their  Mihjeei<.  This  was  the  case 
among  the  Untuns  \vli- »,  under  the  conduct  of 
their  queen,  Boadicea,  rose  up  again>t  the  Ro- 
man power,  u  1  London,  and  massacred 
;'y  thousand  of  their  enemies.  They 
were,  however,  finally  subdued,  and  Boadicea 
herself,  seeing  her  destruction  inevitable,  took 
poison,  rather  than  fall  into  the  hands  of  her 
merciless  victors. 

A  revolt  also  took  place  among  the  Jews, 
in  consequence  of  the  oppression  which  they 
experienced  from  the  Roman  governors,  one  of 


92  EMPIRE   OF  ROMP:. 

Sergius  Galba  proclaimed  emperor. 

whom  went  so  far  as  to  issue  a  public  procla- 
mation, in  which  he  permitted  the  country  to 
be  plundered,  on  condition  that  the  spoils 
should  be  equally  divided  with  himself.  Nor 
did  the  infamous  Nero  attempt  to  check  the 
outrages  committed  by  those  who  represented 
him  abroad. 

There  now  remained  nothing  monstrous  or 
inhuman,  of  which  this  tyrant  had  not  been 
guilty.  All  those  who  >hould  have  been  nearest 
and  dearest  to  him,  had  fallen  victims  to  his 
insatiable  cruelty;  even  his  wife  Poppea,  for 
whom  he  had  sacrificed  the  Empress  Octavia, 
had  been  killed  by  a  blow  from  his  own  foot; 
and  the  valiant  generals,  who  had  led  on  his 
armies  to  victory,  were,  one  by  one,  slain  at.  his 
command;  still,  he  appeaivd  in  nowise  weary 
of  his  horrible  employment.-,  and  continued  to 
pursue  them  with  nndiminished  activity.  But 
human  nature,  at  last,  grew  weary  of  such  un- 
mitigated wrongs,  and  the  whole  world  seemed 
to  rise  up  with  a  determination  to  get  rid  of  so 
terrible  a  monster. 

The  first  declaration  made  against  him  was 
by  the  legions  in  Gaul,  under  the  command  of 
Julius  Yindex.  This  valorous  general  resolved 
that  he  would  no  longer  serve  a  man,  who  had 
proved  himself  far  worse  than  the  very  worst 


LAST  OF  THE   C^ESAKS.  93 

's  reception  of  the  news  of  this  conspiracj. 

of  brutes :  and  he  accordingly  proclaimed  as 
emperor,  Sergius  Galba,  a  brave  old  general, 
who  was  then  the  governor  and  head  of  the 
legions  in  Spain. 

Nero  was  at  Naples  when  he  received  the 
news  of  this  revolt.  He  seemed  to  feel  but  lit- 
tle concern,  as  to  the  safety  of  his  empire, 
though  he  heard  with  great  indignation,  the 
ridicule  which  the  manifestoes  of  Vindex 
throw  upon  his  musical  talents.  "While  the 
epithets  of  tyrant  and  murderer  did  n«»t  ait'ect 
him  in  thi  r  galled  him  .sadly  to  In*  called 

a  miserable  j  and  as  he  read  what 

Yindex  had  written  a^ain>t  him,  he  frequently 
turned  to  those  about  his  person,  and  inquired 
whether  it  was  possible,  that  one  who  had 
studied  music  so  long  and  carefully  should  de- 
•  such  treatment.  Jle  determined,  how- 
ever, to  have  his  revenge,  and,  accordingly,  set 
a  reward  of  ten  millions  of  s>  upon  the 

head  of  Yindex,  and  then  repaired  to  Rome, 
where  the  utmost  consternation  prevailed  on 
account  of  the  revolt,  concerning  which,  the 
reports  were  every  hour  becoming  more  and 
more  exciting. 

Soon  after  his  entrance  into  the  city,  he 
called  together  a  number  of  his  favorites  in  the 
Senate,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  some  meas- 


94:  EMPIRE    OF   ROME. 

Galba's  revolt— Nero's  anger. 

ures  to  subdue  the  party  of  Yindex;  but  in- 
stead of  laying  the  matter  before  them,  in  or- 
der to  obtain  their  advice,  he  produced  a 
number  of  musical  instruments,  designed  to  be 
played  upon  by  water,  and  entered  into  a  long 
explanation  of  their  mechanism,  advan 
and  defects,  adding,  in  an  ironical  tone,  that 
he  "  hoped,  with  the  consent  of  Yindex,  to 
exhibit  these  instruments  upon  the  theatre."' 

Many  days,  however,  did  not  elapse,  before 

intelligence   reached  Koine   of  ti  it   of 

Galba.  !   at   his  supper  table, 

when  the  news  arrived;  and  >o  g  tfi  the 

terror  with  which  he  was  struck,  on  learning 

ction   of  this   great   general,  that   he 

turned   over  the   table   with   his  font,  and  fell 

into  a  swoon.     On  recovering  there  from,  he 

tore  his  .  and   hair,  exclaiming  that  he 

frantic,    in. 

ii  become,  th  re  all 

-  of  the  different  provinces,  mur- 
der every  one  .of  the  Gauls  in  Rome,  poison  the 
whole  Senate,  burn  up  again  the  citv.  and  turn 
the  lions,  kept  for  the  purposes  of  the  theatre, 
loose  upon  the  people.  Finding,  i  .  that 

no  particular  advantage  could  be  derived  from 
such  extravagance,  even  if  it  were  practicable, 
he  more  wisely  concluded  to  meet  his  enemies. 


LAST     OF    THE     r.ESARS.  95 

Hi*  absurd  preparations  for  war — His  despair. 

But  his  usual  folly  w  1  in  the  pre- 

'ions  which  he  made  for  this  purpose.     A 
large  arn  deed  raised,  and  pro- 

perly equipped,  but  1.  >  pro- 

ample  conveyances  for  hi  al  instru- 

ments, h  1  dancers,  also  to  div 

the   o  of  Amazons  a  large   number  of 

unprincn  :nen,  upon  whose  services  he 

much  relied. 

In  the  midst  of  these  absurd  preparations, 

Intel  ii  \  as  brought  to  Rome  that  se\ 

other  province  had  :.  .  and  that  the 

whole  empire  wa-  ready  to  shake  off  the  yoke 

of  the  eriii-1  :  A  portion  of  the  army  of 

alien  upon,  and  routed  the 

-  under  the  e-'inmand  of  Vindex,  but  the 

•us   troops   were   immediately  in 

to  turn  their  arms  against  the 

peror.     Indeed,  the  r<  ,  now  so  general 

that  I  e  to  lind  in  except 

his  b-  d  to  light  in  his  behalf,  provided 

himself  with  poison,  as  a  preparative  against 

the  worst,  and  resolved  to  make  his  escape  into 

Egypt.     But,  upon  inviting  the  few  soldiers 

around  him  to  accompany  him  in  his  flight, 

they  all   excused   the  .   under  different 

pretexts,  and,  before  midnight,  deserted  him, 

and  proclaimed  themselves  in  favor  of  Galba. 


96  K  M  P I  K  E    OF    ft  < )  .\[  E  . 

His  flight — Phaon's  protection. 

Ascertaining  his  forlorn  condition,  he  sprang 
from  his  bed,  and  desired  a  favorite  gladiator, 
who  happened  to  be  near,  to  dispatch  him  with 
his  sword ;  but  the  gladiator  fled  from  his 
presence,  and  the  wretched  Nero,  only  partly 
dressed,  rushed  from  his  palace  with  the  deter- 
mination to  plunge  into  the  Tiber.  But  the 
poor  coward,  unable  to  encounter  death,  stopped 
before  he  reached  the  river-side,  and  meeting 
Phaon,  one  of  his  freedmen,  begged  of  him  a 
place  of  shelter.  Phaon  took  pity  on  him.  and 
conducted  him  four  miles  from  Rome,  t<>  his 
country  house,  into  the  back  part  of  which  lie 
n  -I  -tealthily,  creeping  through  the  reeds 
and  brambles,  with  which  the  place  was  over- 
run. 

I  hit  I  Mini  m  and  the  two  or  three  domestics  who 
were  with  him,  soon  grew  weary  of  their  charge, 
f»r  they  knew  that,  ere  long,  the  emissaries 
of  the  Senate  would  be  in  pursuit  of  the  bloody 
tyrant;  and  Nero,  moreover,  did  nothing,  after 
he  reached  tliB  house,  but  moan,  and  groan, 
and  act  in  the  most  outrageous  manner.  Phaon 
endeavored,  therefore,  to  persuade  him  to  de- 
stroy himself,  urging  upon  him  that  he  would 
doubtless  be  put  to  a  cruel  death,  if  he  fell  into 
the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Nero  consented,  and 
bade  Phaon  and  the  servants  to  go  and  dig  him 


LAST  OF  THK   CJKSARS.  97 


Nero's  dread  of  death. 


a  flfrave,  un»l  bring  the  water  necessary  t«»  wash 
his  body;  but  when  the  dagger  was  placed  in 
his  hand,  he  could  not  summon  resolution 
enough  to  strike. 

On  the  next  day  a  diligent  search  was  made 
in  Rome  l«»r  Xero,  but  he  could  not  be  found; 
und  the  S  -embling,  pronounced  him  an 

enemy  of  the  State,  and  sentenced  him  to  be 
stripped  naked,  and  scourged  to  death.  A  re- 
port of  their  proceedings  having  been  carried 
to  him,  he  seized  a  poniard  in  each  hand,  and, 
jning  closely  their  points,  returned  them 
to  their  scabbard-.  that  his  hour  had  not 

yet  come.  But  he  knew  that  this  hour  was 
close  at  hand,  and  that  the  soldiers  of  the  Sen- 
ate were  perhaps  even  then  riding  towards  his 
place  of  concealment.  He  began,  therefore,  to 
reproach  himself,  exclaiming :  "  Does  this  be- 
come Nero  ?  Is  this  trifling  well  timed  ?  No, 
no:  let  me  be  courageous!"  and,  while  thus 
engaged,  the  clatter  of  approaching  horses  fell 
upon  his  ear.  Again  he  seized  a  dagger,  and 
placed  its  point  against  his  throat ;  but,  unable 
still  to  drive  it  in,  he  begged  one  of  the  ser- 
vants to  assist  him ;  and  the  noise  of  the  pur- 
suers increasing  without,  the  servant,  in  pity, 
gave  the  poor  wretch  the  fatal  stab.  The  sol- 
diers of  the  Senate  rushed  into  the  room  just 
9 


98  EM  FIRE  OF  ROME. 

Eejoicings  at  Rome. 

as  he  fell.  One  of  them  tried  to  stanch  the 
wound,  but  Nero,  with  his  last  breath,  told  him 
that  it  was  now  too  late ;  and  thus  he  died,  in 
the  thirty-second  year  of  his  age. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  this  dreadful  tyrant 
was  received  at  Rome  with  demonstrations  of 
the  greatest  joy ;  and  couriers  were  dispatched 
to  Galba,  and  to  all  the  provinces,  to  relate  the 
happy  tidings.  The  people  went  about  the 
city  with  liberty-caps  upon  their  heads,  singing, 
and  dancing,  and  expressing  their  satisfaction 
in  every  possible  manner.  All  the  statues  of 
the  emperor  were  also  thrown  down  and  de- 
stroyed, while  thousands  went  to  the  house  of 
Phaon  to  view  his  lifeless  body,  and  to  triumph 
over  his  death. 


TRANSIENT  RULERS. 

FROM  69   TO   71   A.  D. 


GALBA'S  severity — His  reforms — His  avarice — Disparaging 
stories — Jealousy — He  adopts  a  successor — Otho's  scheme  to 
obtain  the  throne — Assassination  of  Galba — Otho  a 
the  throne — His  first  acts — Revolt  of  Vitellius — Cent. 
tween  Otho  and  Vitellius — Defeat  of  Otho — Its  effect  upon 
him — His  death — Vitellius  marches  to  Home — His  indolence 
and  gluttony — He  incurs  the  odium  of  the  people — ^> 
siau  resolves  to  displace  him — His  preparations  to 
this— Antoiiins  sent  against  Vitellius — Civil  wars — Success 
of  Vespasian — Execution  of  Vitellius. 


IT. 

TRANSIENT  RULERS. 


THE  reign  of  Nero,  the  last  of  the  line  of  the 
•irs,  was  followed  by  a  few  months  of  civil 
di-ri»rd,  during  which  three  emperors  succes- 
sively ascended  the  throne,  the  first  of  whom 
wn-  Scrvius  Galba,  a  distinguished  general, 
whose  native  virtues  and  great  abilities  marked 
him  as  a  man  eminently  qualified  for  such  a 
responsible  position.  It  is  true  that  he  was 
quite  advanced  in  age,  being  already  in  his 
SL'Nvnty-si'cniid  yoar;  but  he  still  possessed  re- 
markable vigor  both  of  body  and  mind.  The 
nomination  to  the  throne  had  been  in  nowise 
desired  by  him  ;  and  it  is  even  said  that  when 
he  received  it,  he  was  so  disturbed  at  the  idea 
of  being  elevated  to  such  a  dignity,  that  he 
contemplated  suicide.  A  message  from  the 
Senate  announcing  the  death  of  Nero,  and 
naming  him  as  the  successor  to  the  throne,  de- 
9* 


102  EMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

Galba's  severity — His  reforms. 

termined  him,  however,  to  assume  the  empire ; 
and  taking,  therefore,  the  title  and  ensigns  of 
royalty,  he  set  forth  from  Spain,  where  he  was 
then  in  command,  to  Rome. 

As  he  approached  the  city,  an  immense  body 
of  mariners,  whom  ISTero  had  enlisted  among  the 
legions,  went  out  to  meet  him,  and  demanded 
a  confirmation  of  the  favor  granted  to  them  by 
his  predecessor.  Galba  endeavoring  to  defer 
an  answer  to  their  request,  they  considered  the 
delay  as  equivalent  to  a  denial,  and  behaved 
in  a  very  disrespectful  manner,  insisting  upon 
an  immediate  response,  and  even  brandishing 
their  arms  in  token  of  a  determination  to  com- 
pel him  to  grant  their  wishes.  Without  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation,  Galba  gave  orders  to  a  largo 
body  of  horse  to  march  among  them,  and  seven 
thousand  were  slain  upon  the  spot. 

These  mariners,  doubtless,  deserved  some  pun- 
ishment for  their  insolence,  but  the  severity 
exercised  upon  this  occasion  was  illy  calculated 
to  make  a  favorable  impression  upon  the  peo- 
ple over  whom  he  had  just  been  called  to  rule. 
Besides  this,  he  began,  as  soon  as  he  ascended 
the  throne,  to  root  out,  in  the  most  violent  man- 
ner, the  vices  which  had  grown  so  enormously 
during  the  previous  reign ;  also  to  replenish  the 
treasury,  now  exhausted  by  the  prodigality  of 


TRANSIENT  EULERS.  103 

His  avarice— Disparaging  stories. 

his  predecessors.  These  things  were  certainly 
commendable  in  themselves,  though  undertaken 
somewhat  prematurely,  for  the  people  of  Rome 
were  not  altogether  prepared  to  step  at  once 
from  the  depths  of  vice  to  the  summits  of  vir- 
tue. Galba,  therefore,  soon  acquired  the  name 
of  an  austere  and  avaricious  man  ;  and  all  man- 
ner of  ridicule  was  heaped  upon  him,  and  sto- 
ries of  every  kind  were  circulated  in  regard  to 
his  meanness,  and  in  disparagement  of  his  in- 
tellect, and  even  of  his  honesty.  There  was 
indeed  some  reason  to  believe  that  his  fondness 
for  money  exceeded  his  love  of  justice,  for,  not 
long  after  his  return  to  Rome,  he  caused  all  the 
bloody  ministers  of  Nero's  cruelties  to  be  pub- 
licly executed,  with  the  exception  of  the  most 
notorious  of  them  all,  who  was  said  to  have 
purchased  his  pardon  by  the  sacrifice  of  his 
wealth. 

It  is  however,  a  matter  of  much  doubt, 
whether  this,  and  other  equally  unworthy  acts 
are  to  be  directly  attributed  to  Galba.  He 
was,  unfortunately,  too  much  under  the  in- 
fluence of  these  unprincipled  men,  who  took 
every  opportunity  to  abuse  his  confidence,  and 
by  whose  conflicting  counsels,  he  soon  rendered 
himself  an  object  of  contempt  among  his  sub- 
jects. It  is  far  more  than  probable,  that  the 


EMPIRE   OF   HOME. 


Jealousies—  Qalba  adopts  a  successor. 


criminal  acts  imputed  to  him,  had  their  origin 
in  these  cunning  and  selfish  counsellors. 

Be  tliis  as  it  may,  the  people  were  very  soon 
lislied  with  their  new  emperor,  and  were 
v  to  change  him  for  another,  whenever  an 
opportunity  occurred."  Galbahad  beenelev 

•npire,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
army  in  Spain,  and  nuw,  jealou-'  in  to 

spring  up  in  the  armies  of  the  other  provinces, 
who  desired  the  achievement  of  something 
similar.  One  of  the  armies  in  Germany 
<-ially  de-irous  of  placing  their  gene- 
ral. Yiti-llius,  up"ii  the  throne;  and,  when,  in 
due  time,  they  were  called  to  take  the  oaths 
of  homage  and  fidelity  to  (ialba,  they  re1 

emperor,  and    demanded 

thai  the  supreme  authority  should  be  vested  in 
their  general,  Yitellius. 

Having  no  children,  and  believing  that  lie 
would  be  able  to  strengthen  his  position  by  the 
adoption  of  some  one  as  his  heir  and  succi 

>\m  his  determination,  and  was  at 

:med    to    adopt    Marcus    Salvius 

•,  formerly  a  confidant  of  Xero,  and  pro- 

il   in  Lusitania.      Otho  himself  besought 

him  to  declare  in  his  favor,  and  urged  his  ser- 

-   in  procuring  for  him  the  empire.     Hut 

Galba  had  already  determined  that  Piso  Lu- 


TRANSIENT   .11  ri.Kiis.  105 

Otho's  scheme  to  obtain  tbp  throne— Assassination  of  Galba. 

cinianu-.  a  man  of  great  virtue-,  -houhl  be  his 
lieir;  and  when  hi>  adoption  was  publicly  made, 
Otho  resolved  t-»  -Main  the  empire  by  t'.»rce. 

of  money  which  lie  was 

enabled  to  borrow,  Otho  bribe <1  s«»nio  of  the 
oflicers  of  the  Pnetorian  bands,  and  through 
their  influene  •  succeeded  in  corrupting 

the  fideHty  of  the  soldiers  themselves.  So  much 
power  had  he  acfjuircd  over  them  within  the 
short  space  of  eiirlu  days,  that  he  hesitated  no 
long*  '.are  to  them,  in  a  lengthy  sp«- 

his  determioatioi]  .d  the  throne.    (Jalba 

:iati/i-d  by  him  as  cnieUnd  avarir 
and  unworthy  of  the  empire;  and  when    the 
harangue  of  Otho  was  concluded,  the  soldiers 
him  upon  their  shoulders,  and,  with  drawn 
•ds,  carried  him  into  their  camp,  and  pro- 
claimed him  emperor. 

The  news  of  this  revolt  was  a  dreadful  blow 
to  Galba,  but  a  report  of  Otho's  sudden  death 
having  immediately  succeeded  it,  he  regained 
his  courage,  and,  buckling  on  his  armor,  rode 
forth  into  the  Forum,  accompanied  by  a  num- 
ber of  his  folio wers.  Just  at  this  moment,  a 
company  of  Otho's  troops  entered  the  place 
from  an  opposite  direction.  Observing  the 
emperor  in  a  comparatively  defenceless  condi- 
tion, they  rushed  upon  him  with  murderous 


106  EMPIRE   OF    ROMP:. 


Otho  ascends  the  throne. 


design.  Galba,  perceiving  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  save  his  life,  rode  forward  from  the 
midst  of  his  followers,  to  meet  the  assassins ; 
and,  bending  his  head  over  his  horse's  neck, 
bade  the  foremost  of  them  to  strike  it  off,  if  it 

tor  the  good  of  Rome.  This  was  accom- 
plished in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  and  the 
head,  being  stuck  upon  a  pole,  was  taken  to 
Otho,  who  ordered  it  to  be  carried  about  the 
camp  in  the  most  contemptuous  manner.  The 
body  of  Galba,  after  lying  several  days  in  the 
stree^  finally  buried  by  some  of  his 

friends.  Thus,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his 
age,  and  at't>  _rn  of  on  a  months, 

died  another  of  the  emperors  of  Rome. 

As  soon   as  tli  nation  of  Galba  had 

become  generally  known  throughout  the  city, 
UN*  and  the  people  rushed  to  the  camp 
of  Otho,  ta  pay  him  their  homage,  and  to  con- 
gratulate him  on  his  success.  Such  a  hearty 
approval  of  his  conduct  inspired  the  new  em- 

:•  with  the  utmost  confidence,  and  In 
forth  at  once  from  his  camp  to  the  S» 
chamber,  where  he  received  the  titles  and  cn- 

-  of  royalty.    Thence  he  went  to  his  palace, 

was  evinced   by  his  subsequent 

behavior,  to  make  himself  a  ruler  worthy  of  the 

ct  and  admiration  of  his  subjects. 


TRANSIENT  KULERS.  107 


His  first  acts. 


One  of  the  first  of  his  acts  was  to  pardon  all 
those  who  had  opposed  most  strenuously  his 
efforts  to  obtain  the  empire  ;  and  the  very  man 
who  had  taken  the  most  active  part  against 
him,  lie  advanced  to  an  office  of  the  highest 
tru-t.  Immediately  after  this,  he  caused  the 
most  notorious  minister  of  Nero's  cruelties, 
wlinm  <4alba  had  suffered  to  escape,  to  be  ar- 
rested and  punished  a-  he  deserved.  Then  ho 
recalled  to  the  city  those  who  had  fled  from 
it,  to  avoid  the  rage  of  Xero ;  and  restored  to 
them,  and  to  all  others,  the  possessions  of 
which  they  had  been  robbed  by  this  men 
tyrant. 

Hut  the  reign  which  promised  so  much  hap- 
piness to  Rome,  was  destined  to  be  of  even 
shorter  duration  than  that  of  Galba.      Aulus 
iius,  the  commander  of  the   legions  of 
T  Germany,  had  long   desired  to   make 
himself  master  of  the  empire,  and,  by  means 
of  large  expenditures  of  money,  together  with 
the  most,   extravagant   promises,  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  gaining  over  to  his  wishes  the  oiV. 
and  soldiers  under  him.     These  men,  asserting 
that  they  had  as  much  right  as  the  cohor 
Rome  to  choose  an  emperor,  proclaimed  Vitel- 
as  their  choice,  and  boldly  declared  that 
they  were  ready  to  maintain  his  cause  by  an 


108  KMPIRE   OF   ROME. 

Revolt  of  Vitellius. 

appeal  to  arms.  The  greatest  consternation 
prevailed  in  the  city,  when  the  news  of  this 
revolt  arrived ;  and  no  one,  perha[«.  ivg  retted, 
more  than  Otho,  the  evils  likely  to  ensue  from 
it.  Though  formerly  a  weak,  vicious,  an<l  de- 
bauche<l  man,  Mnce  hi-  elevation  to  the  empire 
•  •incd  to  have  lu-en  iran-forined  into  an- 
other heing.  Tlie  welfare  of  his  people  was 
now  apparently  nearest  to  his  heart,  and  hene- 
volence,  humanity,  and  patriotism  charade 
all  his  actions,  Cm.  QO  doubt,  that  the 

wliich  he  had  raised  liiin-clt'  to  JM.\V- 

er,  were  n«.  ln-ttcrthan  those  now  about  to  bo 

empl'»vrd  against  him  l»y  Vitellius,  he  found 
1111  cliai-p-  airainst  his  rival, which  coiihl  not  he 
l.rouirht  with  c«|ual  force  against  himself.  It 
was  tlh-n-tniv  with  extreme  n-luctance  that  lie 

»n    t<>    march    out 
airain>t  the    h-L'ions  of  Vitelliu8,   which   v 

.  upon   their  way  to  Italy.     Xor  would  he 

consent  to  this  at  all.  until  after  he  had  first 

d  to  >hare  the  em  pi  re  with  his  rival,  and 

had  done  every  thing  in  his  power  to  avert  the 

i\\<  of  war. 

When  there  seemed  to  be  no  alternative  hut 
hhiods-hed,  he  collected  a  powerful  army, 
which  he  accompanied  a-  far  as  the  city  of 
Drixellum,  and  thence  sent  forward  under  the 


TRANSIENT   IXTLERS.  109 

Coi;  (  Uho  and  Vitcllius—  Defeat  of  Otbo. 


of  his   two   generals,   Suetonius    and 
Vitellius  himself,  remaining  in  Gaul, 
had  dispatched  seventy  thousand  men,  under 
the  command  of  Valens  and  Cecina,  towards 
Rome.     These  hostile  armies  encountered  one 
another  in  due  season  ;  and,  during  three  suc- 
v-  da\-,  three  bloody  fights  ensued,  in  all 
of  which  the  legions  of  Otho  were  successful, 
though  not  completely  victorious.     At  length, 
however,   the  generals   of  Vitellius   rect 

reinforcements  from  Gaul,  and  another 

jv  ii  icnt  took  place,  in  which  the  troops  of 

Otho,  although  at  first  apparently  victorious, 

were  forced  to  fly  midst  a  most  terrible  slaugh- 

ter. 

Otho  hiin>elf  was   at  Brixellum,  anxiously 

awaiting  some  tidings  from  the  lield  of  battle. 

came  the  news  that  his  legions  had  Boo- 

ed in  capturing  the  eagles  of  the  enemy; 

then  that  they  were  near  to   victory  ;   but  at 

length  no  messenger  at  all  arrived,  and  he  began 

to  chide  his  officers  for  not  attending  to  their 

duties.     Finally  a  poor  soldier  who   had  be- 

longed to  his  now  scattered  army   came   in, 

covered  with  blood  and  dust,  and  related  to 

him  the    dreadful  termination   of  the   battle. 

Otho  was  loth  to  believe  the  terrible  intelli- 

gence ;  and  the  flatterers  by  whom  he  was  sur- 

10 


110  KMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Its  effect  upon  him. 

rounded  accused  the  soldier  of  cowardice  and 

hood.  This  was  more  than  the  poor  fel- 
low could  endure,  so  he  drew  his  sword,  and, 
plunging  it  through  his  o\v;i  body,  told  them 
that  thus  he  was  willing  to  prove  that  he  was 
neither  a  coward  nor  a  liar. 

Such  was  the  effect  produced  upon  Otho  by 
the  death  of  this  faithful  soldier,  that  he  im- 
mediately exclaimed  that  he  would  no  !<• 
be  the  cause  of  the  destruction  of  such  valiant 
men  ;  th;  'iild  die  himself,  and  thus  .-ave 

his  country  fr«»m  further  calamity.     The  friends 
around  61  --d  to  cheer  his  mind,  and  * 

.-till  further  effort-  against 
his  enemie- ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain  ;  and,  in  the 

•;   time,  the  officers,  and  many  ».f  th- 

-my  coming  near,  he 
turned  and  thu-   ad-'  tern  :  "I   es 

ar  more  glorious  than  tl 

don,  siin-  9    convinced   me   of 

•ion.     I  must  however  enl 

me  iavnr  more  ;  which  is  to  die,  in  ordi 
procure  your  safety  ;  I  can  never  so  much  ad- 
vance tiie  interests  of  my  country  by  war  and 
blood,  BS  by  -aerificing  myself  for  its  peace. 
Others  have  purchased  lame  by  governing  well ; 
let  it  be  my  boast  to  leave  an  empire,  rather 
than,  by  my  ambition,  to  weaken  or  destroy  it." 


TRANSIENT  RTLERS.  Ill 


Death  of  Otho. 


•  one  present  could  fail  to  admire  the  noble 
gene;  '  the  emperor;  and  every  one,  at 

the  close  of  his  address,  was  still  more  desirous 
than  ever  to  prevent  his  fatal  purpose.  He 
assured  them,  however,  that  his  resolution  was 
firmly  taken;  and,  v  'hem  to  yield,  at 

once,  to  Vitellius,  he  entered  his  chamber  to 
write  farewell  l.-tteis  to  his  sister,  and  to  his 

'lied.     These  being  finished,  he  prei 

loath.  But  a  great  tumult  having 
arisen  am«nir  his  soldiers,  he  opened  his  cham- 
ber door,  and  employed  the  remaining  part  of 
the  day  in  checking  their  violence,  and  in  giv- 

•>«>d  advice  to  all  such  as  chose  to  receive 
it  from  him.  Towards  evening,  he  again  closed 
loor,  and  takinir  nothing  but  a  draught  of 
cold  water,  stretched  himself  upon  his  bed.  and 
slept  till  the  break  of  day,  when  he  arose,  and, 
takiir  _rer  from  beneath  his  pillow,  j 

himself  a  mortal  wound,  and  tlr  •!   his 

life,  after  a  short  reign  of  three  months  and  five 
diivs. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  Otho  was  received 
with  great  lamentation  by  his  soldiers,  who 
were  unwilling,  notwithstanding  his  advice,  to 
go  and  join  the  ranks  of  Yitellius.  At  first 
they  entreated  a  distinguished  general  named 
Virginias  to  assume  the  title  of  emperor,  but 


112  EMPIRE  OF  Ro:viE. 

Vitellius  marches  to  Eoma— His  entrance  into  the  city. 

not  being  able  to  prevail  upon  him  to  do  so, 
they  sent  an  ambassador  to  the  generals  of 
Yitellius,  and  obtained  a  pardon  on  condition 
of  their  submission  to  his  authority. 

During  all  this  time  Vitellius  was  still  in 
Gaul ;  but  the  Roman  Senate  had  no  hesita- 
tion in  proclaiming  him  emperor,  and  he  set 
forward,  without  delay,  to  join  his  army  and 
to  enter  Rome.  On  passing  over  the  field 
where  the  bloody  battle  which  gave  him  the 
empire  was  fought,  he  stopped  to  gaze  upon 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  men  and  horses  that  lay 
everywhere  about,  putrefying  and  tainting  the 
air  with  their  stench.  And,  snuffing  lip  the 
loathsome  breeze,  he  remarked,  with  disgusting 
coolness,  that  the  smell  of  dead  enemies  was 
quite  refreshing.  On  approaching  Rome,  he 
affected  the  utmost  splendor  in  his  appearance, 
and  suffered  his  army  to  follow  him  without 
any  regard  to  order  or  decency.  The  country 
over  which  they  passed  was,  consequently,  ren- 
dered almost  desolate,  by  the  unrestrained 
ravages  of  his  soldiery ;  and  when  he  reached 
the  city,  he  entered  it,  not  as  its  ruler,  but 
rather  as  its  conqueror.  He  inarched  through 
the  principal  streets  on  horseback  and  cased 
in  armor,  causing  the  Senate  to  walk  before 
him,  like  so  many  slaves  on  foot.  On  the  fol- 


TRANSIENT   KULERS.  113 

• 

Indolence  and  gluttony  of  Vitellius. 

lowing  day  he  made  a  very  pompous  speech, 
in  which  he  magnified  himself  into   a  hero, 
giving   to   all  an  idea  that  he  possessed  the 
power  of  the  very  gods  to  benefit  mankind. 
The  manner  in  which  he  intended  to  admin- 
;he  affairs  of  the  empire  was  soon  appa- 
rent.     Kvery  thing  wa>  intrusted  to  an  unprin- 
cipled freedman, named  Asiaticus,  wh<>,  witli  a 
band  of  players  and  cha1  d  in 

bringing  the  government  into  the  utmost  con- 
tempt. Cnwilling  to  assume  tin1  cares  of  ru- 
ling, he  abandoned  himself  to  all  kinds  of 
luxury  and  profuseness.  But,  of  all  the 
to  which  he  was  addicted,  gluttony  rendered 
him  the  nio-t  disgu>iing.  His  meals,  of  course; 
"f  the  most  sumptuous  character; 
and,  in  order  that  he  might  cat  of  all  the  vari- 
ous dishes  under  which  his  table  groaned,  he 
would  stuff  himself  to  suffocation,  and  then  dis- 
gorging the  contents  of  his  stomach,  commence 
again  ;  thus  eating  and  vomiting,  by  turns,  un- 
til he  was  no  longer  able  to  put  the  viands  into 
his  mouth.  The  sums  of  money  which  his 
entertainments  cost  wTere  prodigious.  About 
thirty  millions  of  dollars,  it  is  said,  were  spent 
in  maintaining  his  table  during  the  short  space 
of  four  months.  Fortunately  his  reign  was 
very  short,  for  had  it  been  of  any  great  dura- 


114:  EMPIRE   OF  EOME. 

His  prodigality  and  rapacity. 

tion,  the  whole  wealth  of  the  empire  would  not 
have  been  sufficient  to  furnish  him  with  food. 
And  short,  even,  as  it  was,  his  prodigality  be- 
gan, at  last,  to  produce  want,  and  this,  in  turn, 
rendered  him  cruel  and  rapacious. 

His  coffers  becoming  empty,  he  resorted,  at 
first,  to  money-lenders  in  order  to  replenish 
them  ;  but  no  money-lender  was  ever  fortunate 
enough  to  recover  from  him  a  loan.  Indeed, 
it  is  said  that  if  any  one  of  them  ever  dared  to 
remind  him  of  a  debt,  he  would  quickly  cause 
it  to  be  cancelled  by  the  knife  of  the  public 
executioner.  Money-lending,  upon  such  terms, 
proving  to  be  rather  an  unprofitable  business, 
there  were,  .soon,  none  to  follow  it;  and  the 
needy  monarch  was  compelled  to  adopt  other 
means  of  supplying  his  demands.  On  one  oc- 
casion, therefore,  hearing  of  the  sickness  of  one 
of  his  wealthy  associates,  he  went  to  visit  him, 
and,  mingling  a  quantity  of  poison  with  his 
medicine,  administered  it  with  his  own  hand, 
and  afterwards  took  possession  of  the  dead 
man's  fortune.  At  another  time,  hearing  a 
Roman  knight,  who  had  been  condemned  to 
death,  cry  out,  in  hope  of  mercy,  that  he  had 
made  the  emperor  his  heir,  he  demanded  to 
see  the  will,  where  finding  himself  joint  inher- 
itor with  another  person,  he  ordered  both  to  bo 


TRANSIENT   KULKKS.  115 

He  incurs  the  odium  of  the  people. 

executed,  and  thus  enjoyed  the  legacy  without 
a  partner. 

By  such  conduct,  Yitellius  could  not  fail  to 
render  himself,  soon,  odious  to  all  mankind.  A 
termination  to  his  reign  was  regarded  as  in 
every  way  desirable;  and  prognostications  of 
his  downfall  weiv  continually  made.  One 
a  writing  was  put  up  in  the  Forum  to  this  en 
•;  We,  in  the  name  of  the  ancient  Chaldeans. 
give  Vitellius  warning  to  depart  this  lite  by  the 
calends  of  October."  In  consequence  of  this, 
he  became  so  exasperated  that  he  ordered  all 
the  astrologers  to  be  banished  from.  Rome. 
Again,  an  old  woman  predicted  that  if  he  sur- 
vived his  mother,  he  would  reign  many  years 
in  peace  and  happiness.  The  ba-e  wretch  im- 
mediately caused  his  mother's  death,  by  refu- 
sing her  sustenance,  under  pretence  that  her 
health  would  be  thereby  impaired.  But  he 
very  soon  began  to  entertain  fears,  founded  on 
something  more  formidable  than  mere  prognos- 
tications. His  mad  behavior  had  rendered  him 
altogether  insupportable,  and  the  spirit  of  re- 
volt spread,  consequently,  to  every  portion  of 
the  empire.  Vespasian,  commander  of  the  le- 
gions in  Judea,  and  who  had  been  sent  into 
that  country  to  suppress  an  insurrection  of  the 
Jews,  learned  of  the  great  detestation  in  which 


116  EMPIRE   OF   EOME. 

Vespasian  resolves  to  displace  Vitellius. 

Yitellius  was  held  at  Rome.  This  valiant 
general  had  already  reduced  all  the  country, 
except  Jerusalem,  to  subjection,  although  the 
disorders  in  the  government  at  home,  during 
the  last  three  transient  reigns,  had  been  a  con- 
stant hindrance  to  his  operations.  He,  as  well 
as  his  legions,  were  becoming  discontented 
with  such  a  state  of  things,  and  a  resolution 
was  finally  taken  to  displace  Yitellius,  and 
give  the  empire  into  the  hands  of  some  one 
competent  to  receive  it. 

It  was  no  difficult  matter  .for  Yespasian,  un- 
der these  circumstances,  to  procure  the  suffrages 
of  his  soldiers.  Indeed,  not  only  the  legions 
under  his  own  command,  but  even  those  in 
Maesia  and  Pannonia,  resolved  to  place  him 
upon  the  throne ;  and,  without  his  knowledge, 
he  was  also  proclaimed  emperor  at  Alexandria. 
At  first,  he  affected  to  decline  the  honors  of- 
fered to  him,  but  his  soldiers  threatened  to  put 
him  to  death  immediately,  in  case  he  rejected 
a  title  which,  without  doubt,  he  was  very  wil- 
ling to  receive. 

As  soon  as  he  had  signified  his  acceptance 
of  the  empire,  his  principal  officers  were  called 
together,  and  a  resolution  taken  to  leave  his 
son  Titus  to  carry  on  the  war  against  the  Jews, 
and  to  send  Mutianus,  with  the  greatest  part  of 


TRANSIKNT   UI/LERS.  117 

Preparations  made  to  oppose  him. 

his  legion-,  into  Italy,  while  he  himself  was  to 
be  engaged  in  levying  forces  in  all  parts  of  the 
"Mast,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  his  au- 
thority. 

In  due  time,  intelligence  of  all  these  proceed- 
ing- was  brought  to  Rome,  and  Vitellius,  with- 
out in  the  least  abating  his  abominable  sloth 
and  gluttony,  resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  de- 
lend  his  power.  His  generals  were  ordered  to 
make  all  preparations  to  resist  the  inva«. 
but  scarcely  had  they  collected  their  forces, 
when  Antonius  Primus,  <>ne  <>f  the  leaders  un- 
der Vespasian,  entered  Italy  with  an  immense 
army.  A  bloody  engagement  took  place  near 
Cremona,  in  which  the  troops  of  Vitellius  were 
defeated,  with  the  loss  of  thirty  thousand  men. 

Vitellius,  himself,  who  remained  at  Rome, 
eating  and  drinking,  and  indulging  every  1 
ly  appetite,  was  tilled  with  indescribable  terror 
on  learning  the  success  of  his  enemy.  At  first 
he  desired  to  go  and  lay  the  ensigns  of  the  em- 
pire at  the  feet  of  Vespasian,  and  was  actually 
taking  measures  to  do  it,  when  an  accidental 
w<  >rd  of  encouragement  from  some  one  near  his 
person,  determined  him  to  make  another  effort 
to  save  his  throne.  Further  reinforcements 
were  accordingly  raised ;  but  a  large  party  in 
the  city  who  were  bold  enough  to  declare  in 


118  EMPIRE    OF   EOME. 

Antonius  sent  against  Vitclllus— Civil  wars — Success  of  Vespasian. 

favor  of  Vespasian,  seized  upon  the  capital,  and 
although  unable  to  retain  it,  gave  a  serious 
check  to  the  operations  of  Yitellius. 

In  the  mean  time,  Antonius,  who  was  ad- 
vancing rapidly  towards  Rome,  now  appeared 
before  the  walls,  and  commenced  a  furious  at- 
tack at  three  different  points.  The  army  with- 
in, sallying  forth  upon  the  besiegers,  defended 
themselves  with  equal  obstinacy.  But,  at  last, 
the  besiegers  obtained  an  entrance  within  the 
walls,  and  a  terrible  slaughter  commenced  in 
all  the  streets.  It  is  remarkable  that,  during 
these  dreadful  scenes  of  bloodshed,  the  people 
could  not  be  prevented  from  celebrating  one 
)f  their  noisiest  and  most  riotous  feasts,  called 
me  Saturnalia.  While,  therefore,  in  one  part 
of  the  city  the  two  hostile  armies  were  engaged 
in  butchering  one  another,  in  other  parts  nothing 
wa-  to  be  seen  but  mirth,  feasting,  and  drunk- 
enness. 

During  these  extraordinary  proceedings,  Yi- 
tellius took-  refuge  in  a  private  house  upon 
mount  Aventine,  whence  he  intended  at  night 
to  make  his  escape  from  the  city  ;  but,  with  his 
usual  want  of  resolution,  he  returned  to  his 
palace,  which  was  now  empty  and  desolate. 
Wandering  about  from  room  to  room,  trembling 
lest  he  might  encounter  some  one,  he  finally 


TRANSIENT   KULERS.  119 


Execution  of  Vitellius. 


hid  himself  in  an  obscure  corner,  whence, 
however,  lie  was  soon  taken  by  a  party  of  the 
soldiers  of  Yespasian.  "With  the  most  earnest 
entreaties  he  begged  them  to  send  him  to  pri- 
S'.M,  ami  .-pare  his  life,  until  Vespasian  should 
arrive;  but  the  soldiers,  refosiBg  to  listen  to 
his  prayers,  placed  a  halter  about  his  neck,  and 
dragged  him  along,  half  naked.  t-»  the  public 
Forum.  As  he  pa^ed  through  the  street-,  every 
•  •lie  loaded  him  with  reproaches;  some  cast 
dirt  and  tilth  upon  him;  others  struck  him 
with  their  hands,  and  no  one  failed  to  make 
fun  of  the  red  face  and  prominent  stomach 
which  he  had  acquired  by  means  of  his  ex- 
cesses. Arriving  at  length  at  the  place  of 
public  execution,  they  beat  him  to  death;  and 
then,  fixing  a  hook  into  his  body,  dragged  it 
in  the  most  ignominious  manner  about  the 
streets,  and  finally  threw  it  in  the  Tiber. 

Thus  terminated  the  life  of  the  glutton, 
Vitellius,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
after  a  short  reign  of  less  than  nine  months. 
As  in  the  case  of  many  of  the  emperors  of 
Rome,  no  one  was  sorry  to  learn  that  he  was 
dead. 


VESPASIAN  AND  HIS  SONS. 

FROM  71  TO  96  A.  D. 


11 


VESPASIAN  emperor — Rebellion  of  the  Jews — The  war 
against  them — Siege  of  Jerusalem — Obstinacy  of  the  Jews — 
Their  sufferings — Destruction  of  Jerusalem — Triumph  of 
Titus  and  Vespasian — Liberality  of  Vespasian — His  death — 
Accession  of  Titus — His  character — Effects  of  his  example — 
Sufferings  in  Italy — Death  of  Titus — His  brother  Domitian 
— Indolence  and  its  fruits — Military  aspirations  of  Domitian 
— His  absurd  expedition  against  the  Sarmatians — His  cruel- 
ty— His  hatred  of  the  Senate — Attempts  to  frighten  them — 
Conspiracy — Assassination  of  Domitian. 


V. 

VESPASIAN  AND  HIS  SONS, 


SOON  after  the  death  of  Vitellius,  the  Senate 
and  army  united  in  declaring  Flavins  Vespa- 
sian emperor.  He  was,  however,  at  this  time, 
in  Egypt,  whither  messengers  were  immediate- 
ly dispatched  to  urge  him  to  return,  at  once,  to 
Rome.  But  the  season  being  very  unfavora- 
ble for  sailing,  he  deemed  it  more  prudent  to 
defer  his  voyage,  and  therefore  remained  several 
months  in  Alexandria,  where,  it  is  said,  he  per- 
formed miracles,  in  curing  blind  and  lame  men 
by  touching  them. 

Vespasian  was  born  in  the  country  of  the  Sa- 
bines,  about  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Augustus ; 
but  he  did  not  attract  any  especial  notice  until 
the  reign  of  Claudius,  when  he  acquired  great 
reputation  in  Germany  and  in  Britain,  on  ac-. 
count  of  his  military  talents.  In  the  beginning 
of  the  reign  of  Nero,  he  retired  to  private  life, 


124  KMPIRE   OF   ROME. 

Jewish  rebellion— Vespasian  goes  to  Home. 

but  was,  at  length,  appointed  by  that  emperor, 
proconsul  of  Africa;  and  upon  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Jewish  rebellion,  he  was  sent,  as  has 
been  already  said,  with  a  large  army  into 
Judea,  the  whole  of  which,  with  the  exception 
of  Jerusalem,  he  succeeded  in  subduing. 

This  great  and  ancient  city  he  was  just  upon 
the  point  of  attacking,  when  the  civil  wars, 
which  followed  the  death  of  Nero,  occurred. 
The  prosecution  of  this  scheme  was  in  various 
ways  prevented,  and,  finally,  he  was  obliged 
to  intrust  it  to  other  hands,  in  order  to  comply 
witli  the  wishes  of  the  Roman  people,  who  de- 
sired to  place  the  empire  in  his  hands.  In- 
tent, however,  upon  the  thorough  subjugation 
of  the  Jews,  he  would  not  set  out  for  Rome, 
until  lie  had  made  every  arrangement  for  its 
accomplishment;  and  then,  leaving  to  his  son 
Titus  the  command  of  the  army  that  was  to  be- 
siege Jerusalem,  he  went  back  to  Italy  to  oc- 
cupy the  vacant  throne  that  there  awaited  him. 

The  news  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Rome 
flew  before  him;  and  while  he  was  yet  many 
miles  from  the  city,  the  Senate,  accompanied 
by  a  great  multitude  of  the  inhabitants,  came 
.forth  to  meet  him,  sincerely  rejoicing  at  the 
prospect  of  having  an  emperor  whose  virtues 
had  been  so  thoroughly  tested;  and  who,  it  is 


VESPASIAN  AND  H;  i-j:> 

Dissensions  among  the  ' 

gratifying  to  lind,  far  from  disappointing  their 
expectations,  devoted  himself,  with  great  .-uc- 
to  the  promotion  of  their  happiness  and 
welfare. 

Titus,  in  the  mean  time,  continued  the  war 
again>t  the  .lew-,  with  the  utm««>t  vigor.  No 
»f  their  country,  except  Jeru>alem.  imw 
remained  unsubdued;  and  towards  this  place 
he  marehed  his  conquering  army,  halting  with- 
in -ix  furlongs  of  the  outer  walls. 

The  Jews,  at  this  time,  were  not  only  obsti- 
nately rebelli  Uoman  power,  hut 
they  w.-re  enpi^ed  in  a  «liva<lful  war  among 
theniM-l\v~.  IK-avt-n  it-elf  seeni'-.l,  also,  in  veri- 
licatinn  uf  the  pre<liction  of  our  Saviour,  to  be 
directly  enira^ed  in  accomplishing  their  de- 
struction, by  '  eartlnjuukrs.  famine,  and 
lence;  and  when  Titus  brought  his  army 
to  their  gates,  the  streets  of  the  city  were  already 
tio\vintir  with  the  blood  of  its  inhabitants. 
Neither  of  the  contending  factions  hopii, 
vKaiii  any  advantage  by  an  alliance  with  the 
Unman  leader,  a  temporary  su-pen-inn  «>f  hos- 
tilities was  agreed  upon  among  themselves,  and 
they  united  against  the  common  enemy. 

The  first  attack  which  they  in;.  con- 

ducted with  so  much  .-kill  and  fury,  that  the 
Romans  were  driven  from  the  walls  in  the  ut- 
11° 


126  EMPIKE   OF   ROME. 

The  iiege  of  Jerusalem. 

most  confusion,  and  forced  to  take  refuge  in  the 
mountains.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before 
Titus  succeeded  in  rallying  his  forces  and  com- 
pelling the  inmates  of  the  city  to  re-enter  their 
gates.  Taking  great  care  that  his  army  should 
not  be  again  surprised,  he  did  every  thing  in 
his  power  to  effect  an  entrance  into  the  city. 
This  was  indeed  a  very  difficult  undertaking, 
as  it  was  surrounded  by  three  walls  of  great 
strength  and  thickness.  The  first  of  these  was, 
however,  battered  down  after  an  immense 
amount  of  labor,  attended  with  much  fatigue 
and  danger.  He  then  made  the  most  favorable 
offers  to  the  inhabitants,  with  repeated  assu- 
rances of  pardon,  in  case  they  would  submit  to 
his  authority.  But  his  proffered  kindness  was 
treated  with  contempt,  and  even  regarded  as 
an  indication,  on  his  part,  of  a  want  of  confi- 
dence in  his  ultimate  success.  To  show  the  in- 
habitants, however,  that  lie  was  fully  able  to 
conduct  his  undertaking,  lie  went  vigorously  to 
work  ;  and  within  the  space  of  five  days  there- 
after, the  second  wall  was  laid  in  ruins,  and  the 
inhabitants  were  compelled  to  rely  for  safety 
on  the  third  alone. 

Again  Titus  urged  the  infatuated  people  to 
listen  to  his  offers  of  peace,  assuring  them,  that 
if  they  would  not  submit,  he  should  lay  their 


V<  L»    ANl>    11  ;  3.       [-27 

Obstinacy  of  the,: 

city  in   the  dust.      Josephus,  a    Jewish   com- 
mander, who  had  been   taken    primmer,  ^>mc 
time  before,  by  Vespasian,  and  who  afterwards 
an  account  of  the  Jewish  war.  was  then 
in  the  army  of -Titus,  and  wa-  sent  by  him  into 
the  purpose  of  persuading  the  peo- 
ield  to  the  Roman  power.      Hut   his 

is   of  no  avail,   and    he    I 
forced  to  ocupe  from  the  scotis  and  repro- 
with   which  he  was  assailed.     Titu<  therefore 

commenced    the  down   tlie 

:vmaining  wall.     The  engines  used  f«»r  this 

purpose  were  brought  to  bear  upon  it  ;  but  such 

'ii    of  the  Jews,  that   nothing 

could  be  done,  and   the   eiiiri:  i 'itus  were 

royed  as  fast  as  they  could  be  built. 
The  Roman  general  was  not,  lu>we\ XT,  to  be 
driven  from  his  enterprise;  and.  a  consultation 
with  his  officers  havii  held,  it  wma  deter- 

mined to  surround  the  whole  city  with  a  trench, 
and  thus  cut  off  all  succor  from  abroad.  The 
work  was  accomplished  with  incredible  celerity, 
and  Titus,  knowing  that  the  city  mu>t  eventu- 
ally submit,  sat  down  in  expectation  uf  a  speedy 
acceptance  of  his  repeated  offers  of  peace.  But 
he  v,  'tied  to  be  disappointed;  for,  not- 

withstanding the  horrid  ravages  uf  famine;  and 
pestilence  within  the  walls ;  notwithstanding 


128  EMPIRE  OF  HOME. 

Dreadful  suffering  of  the  Jews. 

the  necessity,  to  which  the  people  were  driven? 
of  eating  the  very  filth  in  the  street,  and  the 
rotten  carcasses  that  floated  in  the  sewers,  they 
still  refused  to  yield. 

Finally,  a  report  was  brought  to  the  ears  of 
Titus,  that  a  woman  of  distinction  in  the  city 
had  boiled  her  own  child  and  eaten  it.  The 
dreadful  story  put  the  Roman  general  in  such 
a  transport  of  rage,  that  he  declared  that  he 
would  leave  nothing  undone  in  order  to  accom- 
plish the  destruction  of  a  city  that  could  toler- 
ate such  abominable  crimes.  To  this  end,  large 
detachments  of  his  soldiers  were  sent  into  the 
neighboring  forests,  and  immense  quantities  of 
timber  having  been  cut  down,  innumerable  en- 
gines were  constructed  and  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  walls.  The  Jews,  though  starving 
and  dying,  fought  with  the  utmost  desperation  ; 
in  like  manner  fought  the  Romans,  and  the 
walls  of  the  city  finally  yielded  to  the  heavy 
strokes  of  the  never  ceasing  rams.  Then  the 
soldiers  of  Titns,  leaping  upon  the  unprotected 
inhabitants,  slaughtered,  without  mercy,  all 
who  fell  in  their  way.  Great  numbers  of  these 
unfortunate  beings  fled  to  the  temple,  and  to 
the  fortified  part  of  the  city  called  Sion,  while 
multitudes  concealed  themselves  in  vaults  and 
subterraneous  passages.  Sion,  however,  soon 


VESPASIAN  AND  HIS  SONS.      129 

Destruction  of  Jerusalem. 

fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Romans,  and  the  mag- 
nificent temple,  held  in  such  reverence  by  the 
le,  was,  contrary  to  the  commands  of  Titus, 
finally.  destroyed. 

This  dreadful  sight  filled  the  Jews  with,  more 
terr«'r  than  any  thing  that  had  yet  occurred. 
:rding  them-  -  utterly  l'<>rsaken  of 

God,  they  filled  the  aiv  with  their  groans  and 
lamentations,  and  yielded  themselves,  volunta- 
rily, to  the  swnrds  of  their  conquerors.  The 
then,  in  verification  of  prophecy,  was 
raxed  to  the  ground  by  the  ploughshare,  so  that 
one  Btone  was  not  found  upon  another;  and 
thus,  after  a  .-iege  of  six  months,  Jerusalem, 
which,  under  the  peculiar  care  of  Heaven,  had 
flourished  two  thousand  years,  was  totally  de- 
r^troyed.  More  than  a  million  of  its  inhabitants 
perished  by  the  sword  and  famine,  and  nearly 
a  hundred  thousand  were  carried  away  cap- 
tive ;  the  survivors  were  scattered  over  every 
portion  of  the  earth,  where  their  posterity  re- 
main, a  monument  of  the  wrath  of  Heaven,  and 
of  the  truth  of  Revelation. 

The  greatest  honors  were  paid  to  Titus  on  his 
return  to  Rome,  loaded  with  the  spoils  of  liis 
recent  victory.  A  magnificent  temple  was 
built  to  Peace,  wherein  these  spoils  were  de- 
posited; and,  now  that  all  the  commotions 


130  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Triumph  of  Titus  and  Vespasian. 

throughout  the  empire  were  at  an  end,  the 
doors  of  the  temple  of  Janus  were  once  more 
closed.  Titus  became  associated  with  his 
father,  Vespasian,  in  the  administration  of  pub- 
lic afrairs,  and  both  applied  themselves  to  the 
correction  of  the  innumerable  abuses  that  had 
crept  into  the  State  during  the  preceding 
reigns.  The  licentiousness  of  the  army  wras  re- 
strained, and  the  ancient  discipline  restored. 
Even  senators  and  knights  who  had  disgraced 
their  stations,  were  degraded,  and  more  worthy 
men  appointed  to  fill  their  places.  Vespasian 
turned  his  attention,  also,  to  the  beautifying  of 
the  city,  erecting  many  fine  edifices,  among 
which  was  the  Coliseum,  whose  ruins  are  visi- 
ble at  the  present  day.  This  immense  amplii- 
theativ,  capable  of  containing  one  hundred  and 
ten  thousand  persons,  and  deservedly  ranked 
among  the  wonders  of  ancient  times,  was  erect- 
ed in  the  space  of  one  year,  by  the  compul- 
sory labor  of  twelve  hundred  Jews  and  Chris- 
tians. 

Vespasian  distinguished  himself  no  less  by 
his  liberality  in  the  encouragement  of  the  arts 
and  learning.  A  salary  of  a  hundred  thousand 
si'skTCL-s  was  constantly  given  by  him  to  the 
teachers  of  rhetoric.  Josephus,  and  other 
Jewish  historians,  experienced  the  greatest 


VESPASIAN   AXD    HIS  SONS.      I-'H 

Liberality  of  Vespasian— His  death. 

kindness  at    his   hands;    and    Quintilian,   the 

>r,  and  Pliny,  the  naturalist,  together  with 
all  the  professors  of  the  useful  arts  and  sciences, 
shared  largely  of  his  bounty. 

The  public  treasury  was  so  completely  ex- 
hausted \\heii  e  to  the  empire, 
that  it  was  nece—  raise  a  sum  equal  to 
three  hundred  millions  of  pounds  sterlii, 
order  to  meet  the  <  >vrnment. 
The  '  iiience  of  this,  were 

v;    but    Ve-paMan    expended   nothing 
his  private  gratification. 

His   care  was  not  confined  to  the  city  of 

e.  Everywhere  throughout  his  exu-n-ive 
empire,  attention  was  gi\vn  to  the  wants  of  his 

>;e;    and  he  was  especially  devoted  to  pr.»- 

moting  the   welfare  r»f  the   people  of  liritain, 

of  whom,  through  the  instrumentality  of 

•'iierals,  were  now  brought  into  subjection. 
AVith  only  one  or  tw  :-uelty 

ever  exercised  in  the  punishment  of  tho-o  who 
offended  against  Vespasian;  and  when,  alter  a 

i  of  ten  years,  he  was  taken  away  by  death, 
all  the  subjects  of  his  great  empire  mourned 
for  him  as  for  a  father.  Perceiving  his  end  to 
be  drawing  near,  he  exclaimed:  "  Methinks  1 
am  going  to  be  a  god!"  and  then  declaring 
that  an  emperor  should  die  standing,  he  raised 


132  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Accession  of  Titus. 

himself  to  his  feet,  and  expired  in  the  arms  of 
those  who  stood  around  him. 

The  universal  sorrow  which  followed  the 
death  of  Vespasian,  was  succeeded  by  great  re- 
joicings, on  account  of  the  accession  to  the 
throne,  of  his  son  Titus,  who  commenced  and 
continued  his  reign  in  the  practice  of  every 
virtue.  While  his  father  was  living,  he  was 
not  free  from  the  charge  of  cruelty  and  prodi- 
gality ;  but,  as  soon  as  he  himself  began  to 
reign,  he  shook  off  every  vice,  and  became  a 
model  of  moderation  and  humanity.  All  the 
loose  and  unprofitable  companions  whom  he 
had  around  him  were  dismissed,  and  he  applied 
himself  so  diligently  to  the  promotion  of  the 
public  good,  that  he  acquired  the  appellation 
of  the  "  Delight  of  Mankind ;"  a  name  which 
he  seemed,  ever  afterwards,  anxious  to  pre- 
serve. 

\\-spasian  had  labored  assiduously  for  the 
welfare  of  Home,  but  he  omitted  much  that 
might  have  been  done  for  the  suppression  of 
the  abominable  vices  that  had  their  origin  in 
the  licentiousness  of  preceding  reigns.  To  the 
extermination  of  these,  Titus  applied  an  untir- 
ing hand  ;  and  all  persons,  consequently,  whose 
conduct  marked  them  out  as  unworthy  mem- 
bers of  society,  were  deprived  of  citizenship, 


VESPASIAN  AND  HIS  SONS.      133 

Character  of  Titus— Sufferings  in  Italy. 

and,  in  many  instances,  they  were  publicly 
scourged,  or  sold  as  slaves.  Nothing  whatever 
that  could  promote  the  good  of  the  State  seemed 
to  escape  his  attention,  and  while  he  was  not 
engaged  in  doing  good,  he  appeared  to  be  un- 
happy. It  is  said  that,  having  recollected,  one 
night,  that  he  had,  during  the  day,  done  noth- 
ing for  the  benefit  of  mankind,  he  exclaimed  to 
those  around  him :  "  Oh,  my  friends,  I  have 
lost  a  day !"  In  order  that  he  might  keep  his 
hands  unstained  by  the  blood  of  his  fellow-men, 
he  took  upon  himself  the  office  of  High  Priest, 
declaring  that  he  would  rather  die  himself  than 
to  put  another  to  death. 

It  was  during  the  reign  of  this  excellent 
monarch  that  the  dreadful  eruption  of  Mount 
Vesuvius  occurred,  by  which  the  cities  of  Pom- 
peii and  Herculaneum  were  destroyed,  with  a 
great  multitude  of  human  beings,  among  whom 
was  the  celebrated  scholar  and  naturalist,  Pliny, 
who  fell  a  sacrifice  to  his  devotion  to  the  study 
of  nature.  A  great  fire,  which  continued  three 
successive  days  and  nights,  also  occurred  about 
this  time  at  Rome ;  and  not  long  after  this 
calamity,  a  terrible  plague  broke  out,  by  which 
ten  thousand  persons  perished  in  a  single  day. 
Titus  did  all  in  his  power  to  relieve  the  suffer- 
ing thus  occasioned ;  and  undertook,  at  his  own 
12 


134  EMPIRE   OF  EOME. 

Example  of  Titus— Death  of  Titus. 

nse,  to  repair  the  loss  resulting  from  the 
conflagration. 

The  excellent  example  given  by  Titus  was 
not  lost  upon  the  governors  of  even  the  remotest 
provinces.  Cneius  Julius  Agricola,  who  had 
been  sent  into  Britain  about  the  close  of  the 
reign  of  Vespasian,  succeeded  nut  only  in  bring- 
ing the  whole  of  that  large  island  into  subjec- 
tion to  the  Roman  arms,  but,  also,  in  introducing 
among  the  people  the  polite  manners  of  their 
conquerors.  Temples,  theatres,  and  stately 
houses  were  built  by  them,  in  accordance  with 
his  advice  and  example.  The  sons  of  their  no- 
bility were  instructed  in  the  liberal  arts ;  and 
the  language,  modes  <»fdiv--.  and  living  of  the 
Romans,  \\vre  cultivated  by  them. 

The  reign  of  Titus  was  not.  however,  of  long 
duration;  and  his  death,  which  was  probably 
occasioned  Ky  tin  '  his  brother  Do- 

mitiau,  who  longed  to  occupy  his  place,  oc- 
curred about  three  year-  after  he  ascended  the 
throne,  and' in  the  forty-iirst  year  of  his  a<re. 
It  is  said  that  when  he  felt  his  end  approach- 
ing, he  declared  that  during  the  whole  course 
of  his  life,  he  knew  but  one  action  of  which  he 
repented,  and  this  was  an  action  which  he  did 
not  think  proper  to  name.  Not  one  of  the 
rulers  of  Rome  was  more  universally  beloved, 


D   HIS   SONS.      135 

lian— Good  beginning  of  Domitian. 

or  in-  ;vly  Inn:.                ml  certainly  none 

of  hi-  aithfully 

and  •  v  f..»r  the  good  of  the  c 
monwealth. 

When     Titus     "Fhr.  B     Doini 

clan,  by   the 

dentil  of  his  brother,  ed  no 

decided   <ii»]»M>!ti.»;i.  though    tlu-y  tivmhlcd.  he- 
:i   his  youth,  thi-  younger  M 

•iih-ivd  hini-i-lf  iuii..tN  l>y  his 
;  vnluj)ti  |  n>  well  n<  l»y  his 

cnu-1   nml   ninliirnnnt  .     In   the   be- 

ginniBg  of  hif  d,  he  managed  to- de- 

am  ;  ami,  \'»r  a   wliile,  th.  :;ir<l, 

libitions  of  clemency,  lih- 
ernlity,  and  j  "iild   j.r 

another  Tim-.     .Many  excellent  1;  e  in- 

stituted   through  his    instrumentality,  and   he 
an-il  t  .   hr   more   merciful  towards  the  un- 
fortunate and  the  criminal,  even,  than  the  ordi- 
nary «•  hnr-h  d 

and   j.ntiently    i 
them. 

A  com-se  of  conduct  so  utterly  nt  variance 
with    his    inclinations,  could    not   be,   for  any 
length  oi'  time,  -pursued;  and  we  accord 
find  him,  ere  IOM--.  weary  of  the  affairs  of  State, 
and  occupied  in  devising  means  for  gratify  ing 


136  EMPIRE   OF  KOME. 

His  natural  iudolence  and  ite  fruits. 

his  taste  for  mean  pursuits.  Unlike  the  noble 
father  and  brother  who  had  preceded  him,  he 
found  his  highest  enjoyment  in  such  games  and 
sports  as  should  be  indulged  in  only  after  the 
mind  has  been  employed  in  painful  labor. 
Thus,  he  began  to  devote  all  his  time  to  archery, 
wrestling,  and  horsemanship;  and,  at  last,  in 
order  that  graver  pursuits  might  not  interfere 
with  his  favorite  amusements,  he  banished  all 
philosophers  and  mathematicians  from  Home. 
The  most  expensive  exhibitions  were  constantly 
given  under  his  direction ;  and  he,  himself, 
adorned  with  a  purple  robe  and  crown,  pre- 
sided at  them,  and  distributed  prizes  with  his 
own  hand.  But  the  manner  in  which  he  be- 
guiled the  hours  that  he  spent  alone  in  his  pri- 
vate chamber,  is  disgusting  in  the  extreme. 
On  these  occasions,  instead  of  applying  his 
mind  to  some  useful  study,  he  would  catch  the 
harmless  flies  that  crept  about  the  wall,  and, 
sticking  pins  through  their  bodies,  amuse  him- 
self with  the  struggles  which  they  made  to 
escape  his  cruelty. 

It  was  thus  that,  for  a  long  time,  he  exhibited, 
only  in  petty  cruelties,  and  ignoble  pursuits, 
the  baseness  of  his  mind ;  but,  finally,  the  odi- 
um with  which  the  people  began  to  regard 
him,  together  with  their  murmurs,  served  to 


"VESPASIAN  AND  HIS   SONS.     137 

His  aspirations  for  military  fame. 

bring  out  all  the  malice  of  which  he  was  capa- 
ble. The  first  object  of  his  malevolence  was 
the  excellent  Agricola,  whose  talents,  both  as  a 
general  and  a  statesman,  as  exhibited  in  Britain, 
had  won  for  him  such  great  applause.  Domi- 
tian,  with  a  childish  desire  to  earn  a  military 
reputation  for  himself,  had,  some  time  before, 
undertaken  an  expedition  against  the  Catti,  a 
people  of  Germany  ;  but  after  marching,  in  the 
most  warlike  manner,  towards  their  territory, 
he  prudently  determined  to  retrace  his  steps  to 
Rome.  Resolving,  however,  that  he  would  not 
go  home  without  the  honor  of  a  triumph,  he 
purchased  a  number  of  slaves,  and,  dressing 
them  in  tlx)  (German  costume,  carried  them 
along  as  prisoners  of  war.  At  the  head  of  this 
contemptible  procession,  he  entered  the  city 
like  a  victorious  general.  Conscious,  however, 
that  he  could  not  thus  diminish  the  glory  ac- 
quired by  Agricola,  who  was  now  carrying  his 
victorious  arms  over  the  islands  in  the  neigh- 

O 

borhood  of  Britain,  he  determined  to  remove 
him  from  his  command,  and,  accordingly,  sum- 
moned him  to  Rome,  under  pretence  of  appoint- 
ing him  to  the  government  of  Syria.  Agricola 
obeyed  the  emperor's  call ;  but,  instead  of 
receiving  the  government  of  Syria,  he  was 
obliged  to  retire  to  private  life ;  and  his  death, 


138  KMPIRE   OF  KOME. 

His  absurd  expedition  against  the  Sarmatians. 

which  occurred  very  soon  after,  was  doubtless 
accomplished  under  the  direction  of  Domi- 
tian. 

Xot  long  after  this  event,  some  of  the  noma- 
dic tribes,  inhabiting  the  northern  parts  of  Eu- 
rope and  Asia,  and  known  as  the  Bannatiane, 
made  a  formidable  invasion  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire, threatening  the  destruction  of  some  of  its 
important  provinces.  Indeed,  they  succeeded 
so  well  in  their  operations,  that  Domitian,  fear- 
ful of  the  result,  sent  out  his  forces  against 
them,  well  armed  with  an  abundant  supply 
of  moiH-y.  !V;i  iinally  purcha>ed  of 

barbarians, and  the  contemptible  emperor, 
thinking  this  a  gnn.l  opportunity  to  seize  upon 
a  little  military  honor,  resolved  to  have  the 
•ant  of  a  triumph.  Jle  accordingly  entered 
in  the  gn  'iendor,  claiming  the 

e  of  a  people,  with  whom  he  had  never 
fought  a  single  battle. 

Becoming,  daily,  more  and  more  desirous  of 
applause,  he  iinally  grew  dissatisfied  with  every- 
thing that  fell  short  of  the  veneration  paid  to 
the  gods  themselves.  The  titles  given  to  the 
deities,  he,  at  last,  assumed  •  and  no  statues 
AVU-O  permitted  to  be  erected  to  his  honor,  un- 
they  Avere  of  gold  or  silver.  But  even 
these  absurdities  might  have  been  endured,  had 


VESI'ASIAN      AM)      HIS     SONS.        139 


Cruelty  of  Domitian — Scheme  of  Lucius  Antonius. 

he  not,  with  them,  exhibited  the  most  unmiti- 

i  cruelty.     Indeed,  the  M  "f  <leath 

1  from  his  lips  with  as  little  limitation 

as  the   m-»t  ordinary  command  ;  and  a  lai'ire 

number  «>f  illustv'  tton  peri-hed  at  his 

bidding,  upon  the  ni«»t  trilling  pretences.    One 

•..iideliilied  !«>  dl€  :    aimthf 

iperor  Otlio ; 

riii"ther,  I'm-  liavi  D  liis  own  uain 

ne\v  lance  \\hich  he  had  invei  i  another 

Mi/:,  k  in  which  he  praised 

distingaiahed  i»! 

This  dreadful  eruelty  ot'  Duinitiaii  wa>   very 

inuc'li  ar.-  .u-c-ideiital  defeat  of  a 

plan  t'«>rme(l   l»y  Lucius  Ant«>nius,  O«.)veriior  of 

rniaiiN-.'  -i..n  nfthe  throne. 

Marcliini!-  t-»\vard-  K"i:ie,  the  iMnnidable  army 

.ntoiiiu-  was  suddenly  divided  l>y  an  over- 

flowing  of  tile  Rhine*    A-  junc- 

ture l»y  tin-  1'nrces  of  the  «  r  which  were 

lost  him,  he  was  totally  routed, and 
d  to  abandon  his  ambitious  project.    From 
moment,  Domitian  seemed  to  be  .Auspicious 
of  all  around  him;  and   nothing  could  exceed 
ruelty  of  the  tortures  which  he  inflicted 
upon  those  whom  he  ch»-e  to  accuse  of  treason. 
Some,  he  deprived  of  their  limbs,  others,  he 
pierced  with  red-hot  irons ;  while  multitudes, 


140  EMPIRE   OF  HOME. 

His  attempt  to  frighten  the  Senate. 

were  crucified,  burned,  and  otherwise  destroyed, 
to  gratify  bis  fiendish  passions. 

His  hostility  to  the  Senate  and  nobility  was 
scarcely  kept  within  bounds  ;  and  on  several  oc- 
casions he  threatened  to  extirpate  them  all.  At 
one  time,  he  put  them  in  the  utmost  consterna- 
tion by  surrounding  the  senate-house  with  a 
large  body  of  his  troops.  At  another  time,  he 
invited  them  to  partake  of  a  great  banquet  at 
his  palace  ;  and  receiving  each  with  the  great- 
est politeness,  as,  one  by  one,  they  entered,  he 
caused  them  to  be  conducted  to  a  spacious 
apartment,  hung  round  with  black,  and  lighted 
by  a  few  melancholy  tapers.  Along  the  sides 
of  this  dismal  room  were  arranged  all  sorts  of 
instruments  of  torture  and  execution  ;  and  close 
by  them,  were  gloomy  rows  of  coffins,  each 
with  a  senator's  name  inscribed  upon  it.  While 
the  terrified  nobles  were  gazing  in  silence  upon 
these  symbols  of  violence  and  death,  a  door 
suddenly  opened  at  one  side  of  the  chamber, 
uml  through  it  entered,  slowly,  a  hideous  com- 
pany of  men,  each  with  a  drawn  sword  in  one 
hand,  c^nd  a  flaming  torch  in  the  other.  Sur- 
rounding the  horror-stricken  senators,  these  ter- 
rible looking  creatures  began  a  most  frightful 
dance,  accompanied  with  unearthly  grimaces, 
and  the  flourishing  of  their  swords  and  torches. 


VESPASIAN   AND   HIS   Soxs.       141 

Conspiracy  against  Domitian. 

Domitian,  from  n  private  corner,  watched 
this  outrageous  violation  of  all  decency;  and, 
when  he  had  sufficiently  enjoyed  it,  sent  a 
vant  into  the  room  to  inform  the  half-dead  com- 
pany that  the  emperor  gave  them  leave  to  re- 
tire to  their  homes.  But  such  detestable 
trifling,  added  to  cruelties  more  real  and 
inexcusable,  could  not  be  practised  with  impu- 
nity ;  and,  conscious  that  this  must  be  the  case, 
he  began  at  length  to  feel  some  anxiety  for  his 
own  safely.  AVitli  a  view,  therefore,  to  save  him- 
self from  sudden  surprise,  he  kept  more  closely 
within  his  palace,  and  even  ordered  the  gallery 
in  which  he  walked  to  be  set  around  with  a  pel- 
lucid stone,  which  served  as  a  mirror  to  re- 
flect the  pei-sons  of  all  who  approached  him 
from  behind. 

But  great  and  costly  as  were  these  precau- 
tions, they  were  rendered  unavailing,  by  his 
want  of  prudence  in  placing  the  name  of  his 
wife  in  the  written  list  of  proscribed  persons, 
which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  in  his 
tablets.  This  woman,  it  seems,  had  for  some, 
perhaps  very  good,  reason,  incurred  his  anger, 
and,  determining  to  punish  her,  he  had  enrolled 
her  name  among  those  destined  for  destruction. 
Happening,  one  day,  to  get  possession  of  this 
list,  she  was  terrified  at  finding  her  name  among 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 


His  Assassination. 


the  victims  to  his  cruelty.  She  showed  it  to 
the  prefects  of  the  Praetorian  bands,  also  to  Ste- 
phanus,  the  comptroller  of  the  household,  and 
to  Parthenius,  the  chief  chamberlain,  all  of 
whom  were  upon  the  fatal  catalogue.  A  con- 
spiracy was,  of  course,  the  result,  and  a  day 
was  fixed  upon  for  dispatching  the  cruel  tyrant. 
Upon  this  appointed  day,  as  Domitian  was 
making  preparations  to  go  to  the  bath,  a  mes- 
senger informed  him  that  Stephanus  desired  to 
consult  him  upon  an  affair  of  great  importance. 
His  attendants  were  consequently  dismissed, 
and  Stephanus  entered,  with  his  hand  in  a  scarf, 
which  he  had  worn  for  several  days,  under  pre- 
tence that  it  was  injured,  but  really  that  he 
might  better  conceal  a  dagger.  He  began 
his  business  by  giving  the  emperor  an  account 
of  a  pretended  conspiracy,  the  particulars  of 
which  were  specified  in  a  paper  which  he  pre- 
sented to^him.  Domitian  seizing  it  with  eager- 
ness began  to  read ;  but  he  had  scarcely 
finished  the  first  sentence,  when  Stephanus 
drew  his  dagger  and  struck  him  in  the  groin. 
The  wound  not  being  mortal,  a  struggle  imme- 
diately ensued.  The  tumult  was  overheard  by 
some  of  the  followers  of  Stephanus,  who  stood 
without  the  door.  They  rushed,  at  once,  to  the 
assistance  of  their  master,  and  the  emperor  was 


VESPASIAN  AND  HIS  SONS.      143 

Death  of  Stephanas. 

dispatched  with  seven  wounds ;  but  Stephanus 
also  slain  by  some  of  the  officers  of  the 
guard,  who  came  to  the  rescue  of  the  monarch. 
Thus  ended  the  life  of  this  infamous  tyrant, 
after  a  reign  of  fifteen  years,  and  at  the  age  of 
forty-five. 


EXTENSION  OF  THE  EMPIRE. 

FROM  96   TO   139   A.  D. 


130 


THE  brief  reign  of  Nerva — Early  training  of  Trajan — His 
accession  to  the  throne— Plutarch — First  works  of  Trajan — 
His  respect  for  the  laws — His  military  spirit — Conquest  of 
the  Dacians — The  bridge  over  the  Danube — Prosperity  of 
the  empire — Persecution  of  the  Christians — Extension  of  the 
Roman  power — Splendid  victories — Death  of  Trajan — His 
obsequies — Trajan's  column — Character  of  Hadrian — His 
elevation  to  the  throne — His  kindness  and  love  of  peace — 
I  lr  ;il >an<lons  the  conquests  of  Trajan — His  famous  journey — 
His  labors  in  Germany  and  Britain — His  visit  to  Athens  and 
Carthage — His  favorite,  Antinous — Rebuilding  of  Jerusalem 
— Hadrian's  return  to  Rome — His  acquirements — His  suffer- 
ing near  the  close  of  life— His  death. 


VI. 

EXTENSION  OF  THE  EMPIRE. 


NOTHING  could  exceed  the  joy  that  prevailed 
throughout  the  city  of  Rome,  when  it  was  pub- 
licly known  that  the  infamous  Domitiuu  was 
ii<>  more.  The  senators,  especially,  whom  he 
had  so  constantly  held  in  terror,  congratulated 
one  another  upon  his  death,  as  one  of  the  hap- 
piest events  in  the  history  of  the  empire ;  and, 
as  soon  as  they  could  be  convened,  a  decree 
was  parsed  that  no  funeral  obsequies  should  be 
paid  to  him,  and  that  all  his  inscriptions  should 
be  erased.  At  the  same  time,  they  declared 
Cocceius  Nerva  emperor ;  and,  without  delay, 
proceeded  to  his  house  to  render  to  him  the 
customary  homage. 

This  choice  was  exceedingly  fortunate,  not 
so  much  on  account  of  any  peculiar  qualifica- 
tions possessed  by  Nerva  for  this  responsible 
position,  but  because,  through  his  instrumen- 
tality, Rome  obtained,  as  his  successors,  two  of 


148  KM  i' IKK   OF  ROME. 

The  emperor  Nerva. 

the  noblest  of  her  emperors — Trajan  and  Ha- 
drian. 

Nerva,  himself,  was  a  very  excellent  man, 
thuiigh  not  possessed  of  the  energy  and  talents 
necessary  to  the  ruler  of  so  vast  an  empire. 
IIi>  exaltation  was,  indeed,  due  solely  to  the 
blameless  conduct  of  his  life;  and,  even  if  he 
had  been  distinguished  as  a  statesman,  or  B 
dier,  he  was  now  too  far  advanced  in  life.  1 
sixty-two  years  old,  to  labor  efficiently  again>t 
vils  that   had   crept   into  the  Stale  during 
the  unlbrtuna!  "f  I)«»mitian. 

The  short  period,  during  which  he  occupied 
the  throne,  was  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his 
subjects  who  very  soon  began  to  look  upon 
him  as  an  indulgent  lather.  The  vicious  v 
nl'  course,  di-pleased  at  his  eil'ort-  to  promote 
•  »nler  and  virtue;  but  th>  i  annoyance 

which  he  :iccd,  was  i'mm  f  -riaii 

bands,  who  insisted   upon  :.-ath 

of  the  late  emperor,  whose  frequent  liberalities 
had  endeared  him  to  them.  Xerva  did  all  in 
his  power  to  put  a  stop  to  this  insurrection ;  ho 
even  presented  himself  to  the  furious  soldiers, 
and,  uncovering  his  bosom,  bade  them  strike 
him  rather  than  commit  ><>  unju>t  an  act.  They 
refused.  ho\vever,  to  listen  to  his  remonstrances ; 
and  seizing  upon  those  who  had  been  accessory 


Bl  si  ON  OF   ;  :  i»  i  RE.     149 

rleA  reign. 

to  the  death  of  Domitian,  slew  them  in  a  m«»t 

.aimer.     But   not  conteir 
with  this,  they  forced  the  emperor  to  give  an 
approval  of  their  acts,  and  to  make  a  sj 
just  it;,  ui  before  the  people. 

It  was  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  this  cir- 

1    t«.  MM 

some  one  with  him  in  the  adi;  ;<>n  of  the 

affairs  of  Stat.-.     11*-   f.-lt.  the  necessity  of  a 
i^er  arm  than  his  own  to  keep  i 

;md  to  oppose  those  who  were  ob- 
.-tinately  bunt  upon  evil.  AVith  true  devotion 
to  the  welfare  of  th«-  -,  he  sought  dili- 

v    tor    some   one   con  to    aid    him; 

and,  fortunat-  LS  Tl  pi  us  Trajan, 

then  governor  of  Upper  Germany,  and  a 

•  way  connee;  family.    This 

.  >f  the  last  and  happiest  acts  of  Nerva. 
A  short  t  •  rwards,  he  was  seized  with  u 

him  olV,  amid  the  lanu-n- 
!  the  people,  after  a  reign  oj 
:li>. 
Tlie    tamous  Trajan,  who   is   generally  ac- 

i  he  greatest  and  best  of  th> 
eiii["  -  a  native  of  Seville,  in  Spain,  al-  • 

though   his   family   was  originally    from    ! 

rather  wa>   a   brave   lioman  ^fiieral.  who 
distinguished    himself    in    several    expeditions 


150  EMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

Early  training  of  Trajan— His  modest  bearing. 

which  he  conducted  along  the  Euphrates  and 
the  Ehine ;  and  Trajan,  though  a  lad,  accom- 
panied him  in  some  of  these  expeditions,  march- 
ing frequently  on  foot,  and  sharing,  like  any 
common  soldier,  the  dangers  and  fatigue  inci- 
dent to  military  life. 

With  such  an  early  training,  it  is  easy  to  be- 
lieve that  Trajan  would  be  rendered  fully  com- 
petent to  oppose  the  torrent  of  public  disorders 
which  had  so  largely  swollen  under  the  long 
tyranny  of  former  emperors.  In  nowise  vain  of 
superior  position,  he  preserved  the  manners 
and  living  of  a  soldier,  and  spurned  every  thing 
like  homage,  when  he  was  elevated  to  the  rank 
of  general  of  the  army  in  Lower  Germany. 
Even  when,  upon  the  death  of  ]S"erva,  he  was 
requested  by  the  Senate  to  repair  to  Home  and 
receive  the  crown,  he  changed  in  nothing  his 
conduct  or  appearance,  but  treated  every  one 
as  if  he  were  a  simple  tribune.  Nor  was  his 
march  towards  the  city,  upon  this  occasion,  at- 
tended with  any  exhibition  of  pride  or  power. 
At  the  head  of  a  very  large  army  he  proceeded 
from  Germany  towards  Rome,  with  a  discipline 
to  which  the  legions  of  the  empire  had,  for  a 
long  time,  been  strangers;  and  the  countries 
through  which  he  passed  were  not  in  the  least 
disturbed  by  any  improprieties  on  the  part  of 


EXTENSION  or  THE  KMPIRE.    151 

His  accession  to  the  throne— Plutarch. 

his  numerous  followers.  Reaching  the  gates 
of  the  city,  he  did  not  demand  a  triumphal  en- 
trance, but,  on  the  other  hand,  chose  to  go  in 
on  foot,  attended  by  the  officers  of  the  State, 
and  followed  by  his  soldiers,  who  passed  silent- 
ly to  their  quarters. 

The  celebrated  Plutarch,  whose  Lives  of  illus- 
trious Greek  and  Roman  personage.-  are  familiar 
to  every  student  of  history,  was,  at  this  time,  a 
resident  of  Rome.  A  Greek  by  birth,  he  had 
long  resided  here  as  a  teacher  of  philosophy ; 
and  Trajan,  whose  early  life  had  been  spent  in 
arms,  became,  at  a  late  period,  it  is  said,  one  of 
his  pupils.  The  following  extract  from  a  let- 
ter, written  by  this  great  philosopher  to  him, 
on  his  accession  to  the  throne,  will  serve  to 
.-how  the  high  estimation  in  which  this  famous 
monarch  was  held  by  those  who  knew  him 
best: 

"  I  am  sensible,"  said  Plutarch  to'  him,  "  that 
you  sought  not  the  empire.  Your  natural  mod- 
esty would  not  suffer  you  to  apply  for  a  dis- 
tinction, to  which  you  were  always  entitled  by 
the  excellence  of  your  manners.  That  modesty 
makes  you,  however,  still  more  worthy  of  those 
honors,  which  you  had  no  ambition  to  solicit. 
Should  your  future  government  prove,  in  any 
degree,  answerable  to  your  former  merit,  I  shall 


152  EMPIRE   OF   KOME. 

The  first  works  of  Trajan— His  great  respect  for  the  laws. 

have  reason  to  congratulate  both  your  virtue 
and  my  good  fortune  on  this  event." 

Trajan  was  forty-two  years  of  age  when  he 
ascended   the   throne ;  and,  possessing  a  fine 

>nal  appearance,  together  with  a  great  mili- 
tary reputation,  he  succeeded  more  easily  in 
curbing  the  insolence  of  the  Prastorian  guards, 
as  well  as  that  of  other  disaffected  parties  in 
the  State.  Having  taken  measures  to  supply 
certain  wants  of  the  city,  which  demanded  his 
immediate  attention,  he  proceeded  to  banish 
such  persons  as  exerted  a  pernicious  influence 
by  their  lives  or  conversation.  He  then  under- 
took to  reduce  some  of  the  most  odious  of  the 

-.  which  had  been  imposed  upon  the  peo- 
ple by  his  predecessors.  Afterwards  he  gave 
his  attention  to  the  laws,  abolishing  such  as 
were  unjust,  and  enacting  others  that  were  de- 
sirable. Nor  did  the  fact  escape  his  notice, 
that  many  of  the  most  important  offices  of  the 
government  were  occupied  by  persons  very  un- 
suitable, by  reason  of  their  want  of  talent  and 
integrity.  These  he  displaced  as  rapidly  as  he 
could  prove  them,  appointing  others  in  their 
stead.  Upon  one  occasion,  as  he  was  perform- 
ing the  ceremony  of  giving  the  sword  to  the 
prsefect  of  the  Praetorian  guard,  he  said  to  him  : 
"  Take  this  sword,  and  use  it,  if  I  have  merit, 


EXTENSION  OF  THE  EMPIRE.    153 

His  military  spirit. 

fur  me;  if  othenvi-v.  against  me.'7  Immedi- 
ately afterwards  lie  took  the  opportunity  to  ad- 
those  present  in  regard  to  the  reforms  in 
which  lie  had  been  occupied,  and,  at  the  con- 
clusion, declared  that  "  he  who  made  laws  was 
the  first  who  was  bound  to  preserve  them." 

Indeed  no  one  evinced,  by  his  example,  a 
greater  desire  to  preserve  the  laws  than  he 
himself;  and  if  then-  was  any  thing  in  his 
character  at  all  exceptionable,  it  was  his  im- 
moderate passion  for  war,  a  business  to  which 
he  had  been  trained  from  boyhood.  For  the 
profession  of  arms  he  seems  to  have  possessed 
a  talent  that  has  been  seldom  equalled  ;  but  it 
may  be  said  that  he  seldom  exercised  it,  unless 
there  was,  apparently,  a  just  and  sufficient 
cause,  The  Dacians  were  the  first,  after  his 
accession  to  the  throne,  to  feel  the  power  of  his 
arms.  These  people,  who  occupied  a  large  re- 
gion of  country  southeast  of  Germany,  under 
Decebalus,  their  king,  had  given  the  predeces- 
sors of  Trajan  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  It  had 
been  found  impossible  to  conquer  them,  and 
therefore  a  large  tribute  had  been  yearly  paid, 
in  order  to  restrain  their  constant  incursions 
upon  the  Roman  territory.  Trajan,  however, 
refusing  to  pay  the  tribute  which  had  been  ex- 
acted from  his  predecessors,  found  his  dominions 


154  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 


Contest  with  the  Daclans, 


invaded  by  numberless  hordes  of  these  barba- 
rians, who  carried  desolation  wherever  they 
went  He  accordingly  raised  a  powerful  army, 
and  attacked  them  upon  their  own  soil.  At 
first  he  met  with  a  vigorous  opposition;  but, 
iinally,  constraining  them  to  come  to  a  general 
engagement,  he  routed  their  armies,  with  a  ter- 
rible slaughter. 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  Romans,  on  this 
occasion,  was  very  great.  Trajan,  himself,  not 
only  displayed  the  utmost  activity  during  the 
contest,  but,  when  it  was  over,  he  gave  his  per- 
sonal attention  to  those  who  had  been  injured, 
tearing  the  linen  clothing,  even,  from  his  own 
body  to  dress  their  wounds.  The  Dacian  mon- 
arch sne<l  t'»r  peac$,  nud,  entering  the  camp  of 
Trajan,  paid  his  homage  as  a  vassal  of  Home. 
But  Trajan  had  scarcely  returned  with  his  vic- 
torious army,  when  the  treacherous  Dacians, 
renewing  their  hostilities,  forced  him  again  to 
inarch  again-t  them.  Decebalus  had,  by  this 
time,  learned  how  to  engage  with  the  Roman 
troops ;  and,  by  means  of  various  devices,  he 
contrived  to  protract  the  war.  Trajan  deter- 
mined, however,  that  he  would  subdue  him, 
and,  in  order  to  be  better  able  to  invade  his 
territory,  undertook  the  stupendous  work  of 
building  a  bridge  across  the  Danube.  This 


EXTENSION  OF  TIII:  KMPIRE.     l.V> 

The  bridge  over  the  Danube — Prosperity  of  Hume. 

gious  >!ructure.  emitting  of  twenty-two 
arches,  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  and  a 
hundred  and  seventy  broad,  ha-  been  regarded 

o  of  the  ri  works  of  antiquity.     It 

•  be  of  eminent  service  to  the  Roman 
army,  at  .pleti«»n,  the  war  was  eou- 

ducted  \vith  so  much  vigor,  that  the  country, 
although  very  spacious,  and  filled  with  brave 
and  hardy  inhabitai:  .  tinally  subdued. 

Decebalu  -iiort  to    rscape,   hut 

finding  it  impossible,  he  >hiw  him-i-ll',  and  liis 
lu'ad  was  >cnt  at  once  to  Rome  U  a  tn .j.hy  of 
success. 

By  these  conquests,  the  whole  of  tin- 
ritor;,  'a  wa-  annexed  to  the  Unman  em- 

pire.    Trajan'-  -pivad  to  the  nmst  distant 

.nd  Uoine  enjovi-il  ad  -plendnr 

greater  than  she  had  hitlieri  1.     Am- 

liitlier  from  the   ren. 

-  of  India  to  con<^ratnlafe  the  emperor,  and 
to  crave  his  friemUhip.  Tiie.  rejoicings  in  the 

"ii  account  of  these  victories,  were  of  the 
most  extraordinary  character,  and  continued 
for  the  space  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  days. 

Although  a  man  of  Lrreat  prudence,  and  not 
easily  deceived,  Trajan  suffered  himself  to  he 
misled  l>y  the  reports  which  were  brought  to 
him  concerning  the  Christians.  Being  warned 


156  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Persecution  of  the  Christians— Extension  of  the  Eoman  power. 

that  they  were  laboring  zealously  to  overthrow 
the  religion  of  the  empire,  his  extreme  venera- 
tion for  the  gods  induced  him  to  use  every 
means  to  weaken  and  discourage  them.  A  law 
was  already  in  existence,  by  which  all  societies 
dissenting  from  the  established  religion  of  the 
State,  were  declared  illegal.  This  law  was  now 
permitted  to  be  enforced,  and  under  it,  the 
Christians  were,  persecuted  in  every  portion  of 
the  empire.  Among  the  large  numbers  that 
were  put  to  death,  was  St.  Clemens,  bishop  of 
Rome,  who  was  thrown  into  the  sea ;  also,  St. 
Simeon,  bishop  of  Jerusalem,  who,  at  the  age 
of  a  hundred  and  twenty,  was  scourged  and 
crucified  ;  likewise  St.  Ignatius,  who  was  thrown 
to  wild  beasts,  in  the  amphitheatre  at  Rome. 

But  these  cruel  persecutions  were  imme- 
diately terminated  when  the  emperor  was 
made  acquainted  by  Pliny,  the  proconsul  of 
Bithynia,  with  the  true  character  of  the  Chris- 
tians, and  their  inoffensive  and  moral  way  of 
living. 

For  a  long  time,  the  empire  had  now  been  com- 
paratively  undisturbed  by  war,  but,  finally,  the 
Parthians  and  Arminians  attempting  to  throw 
off  all  constraint,  Trajan  again  took  up  arms, 
and  did  not  quit  them,  until  he  had  achieved  a 
series  of  victories  which  stretched  the  Roman 


EXTENSION   OF   THE   EMPIRE.    i:»7 

A  long  series  of  splendid  victories. 

power  even  to  the  Indies.  First  punishing  the 
Armenians  for  their  rebellion,  and  then  reduc- 
ing the  wealthy  kingdom  of  Mesopotamia  into 
the  form  of  a  Roman  province,  he  marched  into 
Syria  and  Chaldea,  conquering  these  countries, 
and  even  taking  the  famous  city  of  Babylon. 
Crossing,  at  this  point,  the  river  Euphrates,  he 
pursued  the  route  once  taken  by  Alexander  the 
Great,  and,  at  the  head  of  his  victorious  legions, 
traversed  vast  regions  which  had  never  before 
been  visited  by  Roman  arms.  Nothing  what- 
ever was  sufficient  to  diminish  the  ardor  with 
which  he  had  commenced  his  journey  ;  and,  as 
he  proceeded,  province  after  province  was  added 
to  the  empire.  lie  passed  over  the  river  Tigris, 
and  opening  a  way  for  himself  in  Persia,  gained 
many,  and  very  splendid,  victories.  Then 
sailing  down  the  Persian  Gulf,  he  entered  the 
Indian  Ocean,  and  was  making  conquest  after 
conquest  in  this  distant  region,  when  he  was 
informed  of  the  revolt  of  some  of  the  provinces 
which  he  had  already  subdued.  Sending, 
therefore,  to  the  Senate  a  list  of  the  nations  which 
he  had  already  conquered,  he  returned  along 
the  Persian  Gulf,  for  the  purpose  of  punishing 
the  countries  that  had  revolted  from  him.  He 
not  only  succeeded  in  retaking  those  places 
that  had  formerly  submitted  to  him,  but  also 
14 


158  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

Death  of  Trajan—  His  obsoquies. 


himself  master   of  all   the   most   fertile 
kingdoms  of  A.-ia. 

It  is  said  that  in  the  achievement  of  this  long 
series  of  conquests,  he  never  met  with  a  repul-e 
except  before  the  city  of  Atra  in  tlie  desert  of 
Arabia;  soon  after  which  he  concluded  to  give 
masters  to  the  countries  that  he  had  subdued,  and 
then  repair  to  Rome.  Going  with  this  design 
to  the  city  of  Ctesiphon  in  IVr>ia.  he  crowned 
Paithenaspatea  king  of  Parthia.  lie  also  gave 
a  king  to  the  province  of  Albania,  and  placed 
governors  an<l  lieutenants  iii  other  provi 
Then  appointing  Pnblius  ^Klins  Hadrian  general 
of  tin.-  fiircrs  in  tin-  Bast,  In-  srt  out  for  IJonic. 
Uut  lui  had  not  pn.civded  farther  than  Si-linns 
;icia,  wlii-n  In-  was  taki-n  sick  and  died,  at, 
tlu1  anv  of  >i.  \ty-t  hive,  after  :i  reign  of  nearly 
twenty  \  < 

Tli,  i  event    eaused   the   most 

profound  sorrow  in  Rome;  and  a  general  de- 
sire was  at  once  manifested  to  do  something 
honorable  to"  the  memory  of  their  excellent  and 
wi.-e  monarch.  A  similar  desire  was  also  felt 
by  Hadrian,  the  successor  to  the  empire.  This 
new  emperor,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  accession, 
was  in  command  of  the  forces  in  the  East,  sent 
the  ashes  of  Trajan  to  Rome,  and  repaired 
thither,  also,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible.  A 


BXTKW8IOM    OF    THE     KMPIRK. 

Trajan's  column— Character  of  Hadrian. 

triumph  having  :  -:vd  to  him  on   h; 

rival.  he  modestly  declined  ii,  preferrim:,  a-  he 
knew  would  be  in. . iv  agreeable  to  the  people, 
tliat  these  ho;  -i!d  he  paid  to  the 

Trajan.  Accordingly,  the  iu<»>t  nia^niticiMit 
]>ivj»arati"ii-  ;i«h>,  to  which  Hadrian 

coiitrihiiv  v   tliiiii:    in    hi>    j>o\vc-r.     The 

statue  "f  Trajan  ic*!  in  tl. 

an  lmn«»r,  licv.-r  !•»•!'.. re  coiiti-rred  iqmii  the  dead  ; 
and  his  allies,  inclosed  in  a  «r«»Mrii  urn,  \vi-re 
(1  on  tlu-  t.-j»  of  a  marble  column,  a  hun- 
dred and  thirty-t\.  i  hei^lit.  This  column 
tells,  even  at  the  present  day.  the  >tory  of  his 
military  exploits,  and  t'«»r  the  elegance  ot'  its 
]»roportinii,  Ix-ain  nd  simplicity  and 
dexh-rity  ..f  sculpture.  i>  regarded  a-  the  iine-t 
in  the  world. 

Hadrian,   the  successor  of  Trajan,   was    hy 
birth  a  Spaniard,  and  the  nejihew  ot'  hi-  [ 

-.  He  was  a  man  of  va-t  and  active 
LTenins,  intimately  acquainted  with  the  Latin 
and  (iivek  laniriia^es  the  laws  of  his  country, 
and  the  philosophy  of  the  times;  but  he  was 
extravagant,  incon>tant.  capricious,  and  vain. 
Although  intrusted  with  the  command  of  the 
forces  in  the  East,  he  was  not  i  by  Tra- 

jan as  the  most  suitable  person  to  be  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  empire,  and  this  prudent  monarch 


160  EMPIRE  OF  HOME. 


His  elevation  to  the  throne. 


accordingly  hesitated  in  naming  him  for  the 
succession.  But  during  the  last  illness  of  Tra- 
jan, the  empress  Plotina  contrived,  either  to  fix 
his  resolution,  or  to  forge  a  will  by  which  Ha- 
drian was  nominated  his  successor.  With  such 
varied  endowments,  and  such  well-known  skill 
in  all  the  exercises  of  body  and  mind,  together 
witli  considerable  military  reputation,  he  had  no 
difficulty  in  ascending  the  throne.  The  army, 
all  the  soldiers  of  which,  it  is  said,  he  could  call 
by  name,  accepted  him  with  acclamations;  and 
tin*  Senate  to  whom  he  was  known  as  an  ac- 
complished orator,  a  forcible  writer,  a  profound 
mathematician,  and  a  skilful  general, cheerfully 
united  in  giving  liim  the  empire. 

Upon  the  elevation  of  Hadrian  to  the  throne, 
he  remitted  a  very  great  number  of  debts  due 
from  (liU'eivnt  individuals  and  provinces  to  the 
irea-tiry.  lie,  also,  raised  himself  very  much 
•neral  estimation  by  giving  the  estates  of 
condemned  persons  to  the  public,  instead  of  ap- 
propriating them  to  himself.  His  veneration 
for  the  Senate  was  very  great;  and  every  thing 
in  his  power  was  done,  to  promote  the  dignity 
and  purity  of  this  important  body.  Such  was 
his  eare  to  prevent  all  unworthy  men  from  be- 
ing introduced  into  it,  that  he  told  a  captain  of 
his  guard,  on  creating  him  a  senator,  that  he 


KXTKXSIOX    OF    THE    EMPIRE.    161 
Kindness  of  Hadrian— His  lore  of  peace. 

had  n<>  honors  in  his  gift  equal  to  what  he  then 

ded, 

The  greatest  praise  was   bestowed  upon  Ha- 
drian for  his  moderation  and  clemency,  which 

exhibited  on  numberless  occasions,  , 
rially  towards  those  who  had  injured  him  when 
lie  was  a  private  man.     Meeting  a  person,  one 
\vho  had  been   hi<   inveterate  enemy,  he 
exclaimed:    "My  good  friend,   you    hav 

•L  for  I  am    n«»w  emperor!"      His  manner 

kind,  especially  towards 

of  meaner  stations.     No   one   who  was 

to  ..brain  his  assistance;  and  the 

sick  ol'irn  >aw  him  in  their  chambers.     "I  am 

emperor,"  said  he,  "  not  for  my  own  good,  but 

fur  the  benefit  of  mankind." 

Although  he  pursued  a  course  very  different 
from  that  of  his  predecessor,  he  seems  to  have 
been  governed  by  sound  sense  and  distinguished 
wi-dom.  The  arts  of  peace  were  far  more 
agreeable  to  him  than  those  of  war,  and  thus 
he  suffered  much  of  the  territory  acquired  by 
the  conquests  of  Trajan  to  be  lost  to  the  em- 
pire. The  regions  beyond  the  Euphrates  lie  re- 
garded as  of  little  value,  and  making  that  river 
the  boundary  of  the  empire,  he  placed  his 
legions  along  its  banks  to  prevent  the  incur- 
-  of  the  enemy.  The  Alani,  the  Sarmatians, 


162  EMPIRE   OF   KOME. 

The  conquests  of  Trajan  abandoned. 

and  the  Dacians  beginning,  soon  after. he  as- 
cended the  throne,  to  be  very  troublesome  by 
their  numerous  incursions,  he  was  desirous  of 
contracting,  still  more,  the  boundaries  of  his 
dominions  ,  but  being  dissuaded  by  his  friends, 
he  iinally  satisfied  himself  by  breaking  down 
the  bridge  which  Trajan  had  built  over  the 
Danube,  concluding,  with  much  good  sense, 
that  the  passage  which  was  open  to  him,  was 
equally  advantageous  to  his  barbarian  enemies. 
There  were  those'  who,  attributing  the  peace- 
ful disposition  of  Hadrian  to  cowardice,  would 
have  done  any  tiling  to  deliver  the  empire  from 
a  ruler  who  was  diminishing  its  glory  and  impair- 
ing its  power.  Indeed,  a  very  dangerous  con- 
spiracy was  fnniu-d  against  his  life  by  four  per- 
"f  consular  dignity  ;  but  their  designs  were 
discovered,  and  they  were  all  put  to  death  by 
order  of  the  Senate.  An  act  so  inconsistent 
with  the  great  moderation  which  he  alway 
played,  occasioned  much  murmuring  on  the 
part  of  the  people.  Hadrian,  therefore,  took 
the  utmost  pains  to  rid  himself  of  the  imputa- 
tion of  having  been  concerned  in  the  execution 
of  these  men,  who  had  always  been  regarded 
a>  among  the  most  worthy  in  the  empire ;  and 
to  divert  attention  from  the  matter,  he  soon  af- 
ter caused  a  number  of  most  magnificent  exhi- 


EXTENSION    OF   THK    KMIMKK.    I*'.:; 

Irian's  famous  joar: 

hitjons  to  l>e  held  in  the  amphitheatre  for  tlie 
entertainment  of  the  people. 

During  the  fourth  year  of  his  reign  he  began 
the  famous  journey  through  all  the   j»n»\! 
of  his   empire,  which    he   i-  said  to  have  per- 
formed on  foot  and  with  his  heikd  uncovered. 

It  wa-  undertaken  in  pursuanee  of  one  of  his 
maxims,  that  an  emperor  ought  to  imitate  the 
sun,  which  dillWs  warmth  and  \  r  all 

the  parts  <>f  the  earth.  In  imitation,  also,  of 
the  sun,  he  determined  that  his  career  r-hould 
be  as  brilliant  as  possible,  and.  mgly,  set 

out  with  a  very  splendid  court,  and  numerous 

6  in  attendance  on  him. 

The  lirM  province  which  he  visited  was(iaul, 
where  lie  halted  fora  length  of  time  sutlicicnt 
ike  a  complete  census  of  the  people. 
Thence  he  passed  into  Germany  and  Holland, 
travelling  slowly,  noting  every  thing  worthy  "f 
oWrvatioii,  and  giving  such  directions  as  he 
thought  might  improve  the  welfare  of  the  in- 
habitants and  promote  the  interests  of  the  em- 
pire. From  these  countries  he  went  to  Britain, 
a  land  in  which  some  of  his  predecessors  had 
acquired  so  much  glory,  and  where  he  was  also 
desirous  of  leaving  a  name.  Here  he  rested  a 
considerable  period,  for  the  purpose  of  reform- 
ing a  multitude  of  abuses,  as  well  as  for  under- 


164  EMPIKE  or  ROME. 

His  labors  in  Germany  and  Britain. 

taking  to.recancile  the  natives  to  the  power  of 
Rome.  Finding  that  the  southern  parts  of  the 
province  were  very  much  harassed  by  the  in- 
cursions of  the  Picts,  and  other  barbarous  na- 
tions of  the  north,  he  caused  these  intruders  to 
be  shut  off  by  a  wall  of  wood  and  earth  extend- 
ing from  the  river  Eden  in  Cumberland,  to  the 
Tyne  in  Northumberland. 

Having  accomplished  all  that  he  could  in 
Britain,  he  returned  to  Gaul,  and,  passing 
through  this  country,  went  to  Spain,  where  he 
was  received  with  groat  joy,  as  1  icing  a  native 
of  that  country.  Selecting  the  city  of  Terra- 
gona  as  his  resting-place,  lie  there  called  a 
mooting  of  the  deputies  from  all  the  provinces, 
and  devised  many  things  for  the  benefit  of  the 
nation.  Having  passed  the  winter  in  this  coun- 
try, he  returned  to  Rome,  fur  the  purpo- 
making  preparations  to  pursue  his  journey  in 
the  East,  After  arriving  in  Asia  Minor,  he 
was  induced  to  turn  aside  and  make  ti  visit  to 
Athens,  where  he  remained  for  a  considerable 
length  of  time,  taking  upon  himself  the  office 
of  arclion  or  chief  magistrate  of  the  place. 
Here,  he  was  initiated  into  the  Eleusinian  mys- 
teries, held  among  the  most  sacred  in  the  Pagan 
mythology.  At  the  suggestion  of  Gratianus, 
the  proconsul  of  Asia,  he  remitted,  during  his 


K  X  T  I.  N  S  i  (  »  X    O  F    T  11  K     K  M  P  I  K  K  . 
Hid  visit  to  Athens  and  Carthage— Ills  favorite,  Antlnous. 

residence  here,  the  persecution  of  the  Chris- 
tians, and  even  thought  of  receiving  Christ 
among  the  number  of  the  gods. 

Passing  from  Athens  to  Sicily,  he  visited 
"Mount  -Ktna,  and  thence  returned,  once  more, 
to  Rome,  where  he,  however,  stayed  only  long 
enough  to  ])iv}»arc  ships  to  convey  him  to  the 
coast  of  Afriea.  IK'iv  he  remained  a  great 
length  of  time,  engaged  in  reforming  the  gov- 
ernment, and  in  erecting  the  most  magnificent 
Imildings.  The  famous  city  of  Carthage,  which 
had  so  long  been  in  ruins,  he  ordered  to  be 
rebuilt,  calling  it  after  his  <>\vn  name,  LTadrian- 
ople, 

Revisiting  Rome,  Hadrian,  in  a  very  short 
time,  undertook  a  second  journey  to  Greece, 
whence  he  passed  over  into  Asia  Minor,  and 
thence  into  Syria,  Palestine,  Arabia,  and  Kgypt. 
It  was  during  this  journey  that  he  lost  his  favor- 
ite, Antinous,  a  young  Bithynian,  who  had  ac- 
companied him  during  his  travels.  The  young 
man  was  drowned  in  the  Nile,  but  whether  by 
accident,  or  otherwise,  cannot  be  known.  J I  a- 
drian  was  inconsolable  on  account  of  his  loss; 
and,  not  satisfied  with  giving  his  name  to  a 
newly-discovered  star,  he  built  temples  in  his 
honor,  and  caused  him  to  be  worshipped  as  a 
god.  His  image  was  represented  by  the  arts 


166  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

Rebuilding  of  Jerusalem. 

in  every  way ;  and  some  of  these  figures  belong 
to  the  finest  remains  of  antiquity,  especially  the 
statue,  now  in  the  Yatican,  called  the  Antinous 
of  Belvidere. 

The  tomb  of  Pompey,  which  he  found  at  this 
time  to  be  in  a  ruined  condition,  was  ordered 
to  be  rebuilt  by  him.  He  also  gave  directions 
for  the  rebuilding  of  Jerusalem,  a  task  which 
was  readily  undertaken  by  the  Jews,  who  now 
began  to  hope  that  they  were  about  to  be  re- 
stored to  their  long-lost  kingdom.  But  not  sat- 
isfied with  the  benefits  which  Hadrian  had  con- 
ferred upon  them,  and  angry  on  account  of  the 
privileges  granted  to  Pagan  worshippers  in 
their  new  city,  they  fell  upon  all  the  Romans 
and  Christians  in  Judea,  and  put  them,  unmer- 
cifully, to  the  sword.  Hadrian,  who  was  in 
Athens  at  the  time,  hearing  of  this  base  return 
of  his  kindness,  was  so  incensed  that  he  sent  a 
powerful  army  against  the  Jews,  destroying 
nearly  six  hundred  thousand,  and  banishing  the 
rest,  with  orders  that  they  should  never  again 
come  within  view  of  their  native  land. 

At  length  the  emperor,  after  spending  about 
thirteen  years  in  travelling  over  his  dominions, 
resolved  to  return  and  end  his  days  in  Rome. 
The  news  of  his  intention  was  carried  to  the 
city,  where  it  was  received  with  every  demon- 


KXLKNSIOX   OF   THE   EMPIRE.      167 

His  joyful  reception  at  Rome — The  great  acquirements  of  Hadrian. 

stration  of  joy,  for  Hadrian  had  endeared  him- 
self to  his  people  in  a  thousand  different  wavs. 
All  his  subjects,  then,  united  in  giving  him  n 
hearty  welcome  home ;  and  he  came  back  to 
them  somewhat  older  and  more  feeble,  but  with 
unabated  zeal  for  their  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity. AVith  the  greatest  assiduity,  he  now  ap- 
plied himself  to  the  correction  of  whatever 
abuses  had  crept  into  the  government  during 
his  protracted  journey ;  he  caused  also  the  enact- 
ment of  various  useful  and  just  laws.  The 
privilege  hitherto  granted  to  masters,  of  killing 
their  own  slaves,  was  very  wisely  taken  t'mni 
them;  and  slaves  who  were  accused  of  miscon- 
duct, were  allowed  to  be  tried  in  an  equitable 
manner. 

Hadrian  was  very  fond  of  di>playing  his  nu- 
merous acquirements,  and  seemed  ever  ready 
to  engage  in  conversation,  upon  any  topic,  with 
those  around  him.  Such  was  his  ambition  to 
excel  in  knowledge  of  the  arts  and  sciences, 
that  he  was  envious  of  all  those  who  acquired 
any  considerable  reputation  therein ;  and  it  is 
asserted  that  he  allowed  his  jealousy,  on  some 
occasions,  to  render  him  unjust  and  even  cruel. 
Apollodorus,  the  famous  architect,  who  built 
Trajan's  great  bridge  over  the  Danube,  is  said 
to  have  lost  his  life  in  consequence  of  some 


168  KM  !•  IKK    OF    ROME. 

His  suflerintrs  near  the  close  of  life. 

severe  criticisms  upon   an   edifice  con.-tr 
after  Ilndrin:  rns.     According  to   - 

accounts,   it   became,  at   length,  a  dangerous 
tli i HIT  to  dispute  with  him,  even  upon  philo- 
sophic subject^.     Favorinus,  a  philosoph 
great  reputation,  engaging  one  day  in  a  di 
sion  with  him,  was  wise  enough  to  allow  him- 
self to   be   vanquished.     Some   of  his   friends 
blaming  him  for  so  doing,  he  replied:  "How, 
would  you  have  me  contend  with  a  man  who 
is  ma-tiT  <>f  thirty  legions?" 

v  and  bodily  infirmities  began  now  to 
warn  Hadrian  that  the  time  was  at  hand  when 
he  mu>t  lay  a>ide,  :  «  of  em- 

pire. Determining,  therefore,  to  adopt  some 
one  as  his  heir  and  r.  he  fixed  upon 

Titu-  Marcu>  Antoninus,  one  of  the  four  per- 
sons of  consular  rank  among  whom  he  had  di- 
vided the  administration  of  the  atfairs  of  Italy. 
This  adoption  was,  however,  on  condition  that 
Antoninus  should,  in  his  turn,  adopt  Lucius 
VITUS,  and  Marcus  Amvlius,  both  of  whom 
subsequently  a-cended  the  throne.  In  the  mean 
time,  he  became  more  and  more  feeble,  and, 
finally,  fell  into  a  stale  of  -uttering,  in  which 
life  grew  quite  insupportable.  Occasionally 
his  pains  were  such,  that  he  begged  those  who 
were  in  attendance  to  dispatch  him  with  the 


F  THK  KM  PI  HE.     l«;:i 


I.      Hut  Ant"ninus  was  always  at  hand  to 

any  tiling  <>f  this  kind;  and,  m<»iv 
did  all  in  his  p<»\ver  to  reconcile  the  emper«>r  to 

11  as  to  make  it  as  sii] 'portal-! 

him  as  v,  ible.     It  was,  perhaps,  at  the 

•imeiiduti.'ii  of  Antoninus  that  hi-  wont  to 

Baia3,  in  the  h«>pe  that  I  g6  of  air  and 

benefit    him.      This,    however, 

ed  of  no  avail,  and  the  sntlering  nmnaivh 

•mined,   at    last,   to   ivf  v   means 

d  to  alleviate  \\\-  pain-,  or  to  protract  his 

'•!«;,  "that  kings   died  nu-ivly    l»y   the 

multitude  of  their   physicians."      Under  such 

circi;  0,  death  probably  came  sooner  t.» 

;  and,  iinally,  in  the 
of  his  age,  and  in  the   twenty-second  of  his 

[plied,    dictating    the    cvlcl> 
ftan/as,  nf  which  Pope  has  made  the  following 
translation: 

"Oh,  fleeting  spirit,  wandering 

That  long  has  warmed  my  tender  breast, 
Wilt  tliou  no  more  my  frame  inspire  ? 
No  more  a  pleasing,  cheerful  guest  ? 
Whithrr,  ah  !  whither  art  thou  flying  ? 

To  what  dark,  undiscover'd  shore  ? 
Thou  seem  st  ;ill  trembling,  shivering,  dying, 
And  wit  and  humor  are  no  more." 
15 


Till-    ANTONINES. 

FROM   139   TO   181,  A.  D. 


CHARACTER  of  the  Emperor  Antoninus  Pius — His  patron- 
age of  learning — Apollouius — Death  of  Antoninus — Two 
emperors  succeed  him — Invasion  of  the  barbarians — Yerus 
sent  against  them — His  shameful  conduct — Sutlerin^s  of  the 
empire  —  Relief  aiT<>r<lr<l  by  Auivlius — Death  of  Verus — 
Overthrow  of  the  barbarians — Further  invasions — A  remark- 
able bat tl.- — Miraculous  deliverance,  of  the  Romans— Con- 
spiracy of  Avidius  Casius — Journey  of  Aurelius  into  the 
East — His  devotion  to  philosophy — His  expedition  • 

-i<  kness  of  Aurelius — His  anxiety  for  Corn- 
modus — His  death. 


VII. 

THE  ANTONINES. 


Trrrs  MAK«TS  A. \TONINCS,  the  successor  of 
Hadrian,  was  one  of  that  very  small  nunil)er  of 
men,  who,  by  a  proper  use  of  power,  render 
themselves  I-  1-3  of  their  kind.  AVith 

it  propriety,  lie  lias  been  denominated 
»nd  Xuma.    Indeed,  his  love  of  justice,  re- 
ligion, and  peace,  induced  the  Roman  Seriate  i«> 
r  iijKtn  him  the  surname  of  J'tux.     And 
it  is,  ]»erha]»s,   not  a  little  to  his  praise,  that 
although    his   reign   continued    for  a  space  of 
twenty-two  years,  it  furnishes  very  few  materi- 
als for  history,  which  has  been  justly  called   a 
register  of  the  crimes,  follies,  and  misfortunes 
of  mankind. 

At  the  time  of  his  accession  to  the  empire, 

Antoninus  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  fifty  years, 

having  already  discharged,  with  great  x.eal  and 

integrity,  some  of  the  most  important  offices  of 

150 


174:  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

Character  of  the  emperor  Antoninus  Pius. 

the  State.  He  began,  at  once,  to  ascertain 
wherein  he  could  propose  any  thing  which 
might  promote  the  welfare  of  the  empire ;  and, 
from  the  first  moment,  he  labored  with  assiduity 
to  this  end.  Many  unworthy  persons  were  re- 
moved by  him  from  office ;  burdensome  taxes 
were  moderated  or  abolished,  and  the  wants  of 
the  needy,  in  many  cases,  relieved  at  the  sacri- 
fice of  his  own  private  fortune.  In  this  manner, 
as  well  as  by  his  great  dislike  of  all  personal 
display,  he  gained  the  esteem  not  only  of  the 
citizens  of  Rome,  but  of  the  whole  empire. 
Ambassadors  came  to  him  from  the  remotest 
regions,  to  solicit ;  his  friendship  and  alliance; 
an<K  in  some  instancrs.  IK-  was  desired  by  them 
to  appoint  kings  for  their  respective  countries. 

The  Christians,  who  in  previous  reigns  had 
been  greatly  persecuted,  he  treated  with  the 
utmost  kindness.  They  were  not  only  allowed 
to  practise  their  religion,  but  Antoninus  de- 
clare* I  thai  whoever  disturbed  them  simply  on 
account  of  their  faith,  should  be  punished  with 
great  severity. 

Antoninus  had  very  little  taste  for  war  ;  and 
when  his  subjects  attempted  to  inspire  him  with 
a  desire  for  military  glory,  he  replied  :  "  I  had 
rather  preserve  the  life  of  a  single  citizen,  than 
destroy  a  thousand  enemies."  Notwithstanding 


THE    AN  TON  IN  i  175 

His  patronage  of  learning— Apollonius. 

this,  he  Mippressed  with  great  promptness  the 
insurrections  which  happened  during  his  reign 
in  IJritain,  in  Dacia,  and  in  Germany.  In  or- 
der t<>  prevent  the  incursions  of  the  barbarians 
in  the  former  country,  he  dug  a  deep  trench 
from  twelve  to  fourteen  feet  wide,  and  built  a 
high  wall  across  the  isthmus  between  the  Forth 
and  the  Clyde. 

Learned  men  were  sure  to  secure  his  patron- 
age. He  invited  them  from  the  remotest  coun- 
tries, for  the  purpose  of  conferring  wealth  and 
honor  upon  them.  Among  those  win  >  thus  came 
to  K  'me  at  his  invitation,  was  Apollonius,  a  fa- 
mous stoic  philosopher,  whom  he  designed  as 
an  instructor  for  his  adopted  son,  Marcus  Au- 
relius.  It  is  said  that  this  philosopher,  on  his 
arrival,  having  been  sent  for  by  the  emperor, 
replied,  in  an  arrogant  manner,  that  it  was  a 
scholar's  duty  to  wait  upon  the  master,  and  not 
the  master's  duty  to  wait  upon  the  scholar.  An- 
toninus, smiling  only  at  this  ridiculous  display 
of  vanity,  sent  Marcus  Aurelius  to  him. 

Not  the  least  of  the  numberless  things,  so  ad- 
mirable  in  Antoninus,  wa<  the  pains  which  he 
took  to  render  Marcus  Aurelius  worthy  to  suc- 
ceed him  in  the  empire;  and,  truly,  Marcus 
Aurelius  was.  in  all  respects,  worthy  to  be  the 
adopted  son  of  this  excellent  monarch.  At  a 


176  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Death  of  Antoninus — Two  emperors  succeed  him.          . 

early  age  he  devoted  himself  to  the  sever- 
est study,  and  to  the  practice  of  every  virtue. 
It  is  said,  indeed,  that  during  the  whole  reign 
of  his  adopted  father,  which  continued  twenty- 
years,  lie  was  absent  from  the  palace  only 
two  nights,  and  even  these  were  not  in  suc- 

'"ii. 

AVh en  Antoninus,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five, 
found  that  the  hand  of  death  was  upon  hi  in,  he 
convened  his  friends  and  principal  officers 
around  his  death-lied,  and  in  their  presence 
confirmed  the  adoption  of  Marcus  Aurelius, 
without  mentioning  Lucius  Vcrus.  whom  Ha- 
drian had  desired  him  to  adopt  al>o.  Hut  when 
.Marcus  Aurelius  who  could  not  Le  guilty  of  an 
act  that  had  the  lea-t  appearance  of  injustice, 
found  himself  in  Ion  of  the  empire-,  he 

admitted  Veru>  as  his  a-"ciate  ande<[ual;  and 
thus  Kome,  for  the  tirst  time,  found  itsi-If  under 
the  government  of  two  sovereigns,  of  e<pml  au- 
thority, hut  of  very  diiferent  merit  and  pi. 

The  lamentation  for  the  loss  of  Antoninus 
extended  over  the  whole  empire.  Marcus  Au- 
relius pronounced  his  funeral  oration.  The 
Senate  erected  a  pillar  to  his  memory,  which  is 
^till  standing,  and  known  as  the  Anton  nit 
( \'hunn.  His  successors  assumed  his  name  in 


Tin:    AN  TON  INKS.  177 

Invasion  of  the  barbarians. 

hon,,r  i>r  him  ;  ami  In-  \\a-  >p«>krn  of,  a-  bein«; 
almost  tin.-  only  monarch  that  had  lived  without 
spilling  the  1'  .is  countrymen  or  of  his 

eriemi 

Tlie  two  emperors,  Mareus  Auivlius  and  Lu- 
cius Verus,  tlieii  a-ccndrd  the  throne  together, 
and  reigned  c«'iij"intly  during  a  space  of  nine 

-.  with  far  more  haniiouy  than  im'irht  have 
1  from  two   j  ich  4ipj»o- 

15ul    they   had  scarcely  hcirim 
t-»  adniini>ter  the   atl'airs  imient,  when 

the   empire    wa-    ;  ;    on    all   sides   l»y  the 

l)arl)arou>  nati'-n-  that  >urnnunled  it.     (iennany 
:ivaded  by  the  renowned  and  valiant  ( 'atti 
who    had    l.een    >ueh  :'ul    oppmu-nts    of 

Julius  Ca-sar,  and  who  now  ravaizyd  all  before 
them,  with  lire  and  >word.  Tho  Dritons,  aN«», 
rev..ltc<l  ;  a-  K«. man  authority  ;  and  the 

Parthian-,  under  their  kiln  .madean 

irru])ti«)ii  more  dreadi'ul  than  any  that  thev  had 
before  undertaken,  dc>tr«»yiu«r  the  lioinan  le- 
gions in  Armenia,  and  driving  the  .Roman 
i;o \vrnor  from  Syria. 

Such  a  s  RTM  well  calculated  to 

the  abilities  of  the  new  emperors  of  Rome. 
Together  they  devUed  plans  for  subduing  their 
enemies  and  reducing  their  revolted  provinces 

ibmiflsion.     It  was  agreed  between  them 


178  EMPIRE   OF  HOME. 

Verus  sent  to  oppose  them. 

that  Aurelius  should  remain  at  home  to  admin- 
ister justice,  and  correct  such  faults  as  might 
exist  in  the  laws  and  policy  of  the  State,  and 
that  Yerus,  furnished  with  the  ablest  assistants, 
should  take  the  field  in  person. 

According  to  this  arrangement,  Yerus  went, 
supported  by  the  best  advice  from  the  judicious 
Aurelius,  as  well  as  by  the  most  experienced 
generals,  and  most  valiant  troops.  But  Yerus 
himself  performed  a  very  insignificant  part  in 
the  victories  which  were  achieved  at  this  time 
by  the  Roman  arms.  Intent,  alone,  upon  his 
own  pleasures,  lie  resolved  to  intrust  the  con- 
duct <>f  this  great  expedition  to  his  generals;  and, 
accordingly,  when  he  reached  Antioch  in  Syria. 
he  buried  himself  in  one  of  its  beautiful  sub- 
urbs, called  Daphne,  where  lie  rioted  in  excess- 
es, unknown  even  to  the  voluptuous  Greeks. 
The  army  was  abandoned  by  him,  and  the  ob- 
ject of  his  journey  to  this  remote  portion  of  his 
empire  was  totally  forgotten.  His  generals, 
however,  leaving  him  plunged  in  every  kind  of 
debauchery,  went  forward  and  fought  the  bat- 
tles of  the  empire  with  all  success.  Baby- 
lon, Ctesiphon,  and  many  other  powerful 
cities,  were  plundered  and  destroyed,  and,  in 
the  course  of  four  years,  during  which  the 
war  continued,  the  Romans  ran  over  nearly 


THE   ANTONINES.  179 

Shameful  conduct  of  Verus. 

all  the  country  of  Parthia,  and  thoroughly  sub- 
dued it. 

But  Verus  who  had,  all  this  time,  passed  a 
life  of  indolence  and  pleasure,  determined,  now. 
In  iMirn  tlu1  honors  which  had  been  so  hardly 
can u-d  by  others.  Appointing,  therefore,  suit- 
able persons  to  take  care  of  the  conquests  re- 
cently obtained,  and  taking  upon  himself  the 
titles  of  Armenicus  and  Parthic-us.  he  returned 
to  Rome  in  the  greatest  pomp  and  >plendor. 

The  excellent  Anrclius  was  n..t  ignorant  of 
iiameful  conduct  of  Verus  ;  and,  mortified 
with  the  accounts  that  were  daily  brought  of 
his  excesses,  he  did  every  tiling  that  was  possi- 
ble to  reclaim  his  colleague  ;  and  when  app: 
that  he  was  about  to  return  with  his  victorious 
army,  he  ordered  the  must  magnificent  prepa- 
rations for  his  reception.  But  the  return  of 
Verus  was  a  terrible  thing  for  the  empire.  1 1  is 
soldiers  brought  the  plague  from  Parthiu,  and 
spread  it  over  all  the  provinces  through  which 
they  passed.  Their  route  was,  of  course, 
marked  by  the  most  dreadful  scenes  of  wretch- 
edness and  death  ;  but  Verus,  insensible  alike 
to  humanity  and  shame,  pursued  his  desolating 
march,  attentive  only  to  the  preservation  of  his 
own  life  and  the  promotion  of  his  own  pleasures. 

But  the  raging  pestilence,  spread   over  the 


180  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Terrible  sufferings  of  the  empire— Aurelius  relieves  the  empire. 

empire  by  the  reckless  Yerus,  was  not  the  only 
cause  of  terror  and  destruction.  Earthquakes, 
famines,  and  inundations,  such  as  had  never  be- 
fore been  known,  took  place  ;  myriads  of  lo- 
custs filled  the  air  and  devoured  the  productions 
of  the  land ;  and,  besides  all  this,  the  barba- 
rous nations  surrounding  the  empire,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  these  terrible  calamities,  carried 
their  devastations  even  into  the  midst  of  Italy. 
To  crown  the  whole,  this  deplorable  state  of 
things  was  attributed  by  the  pagan  priests  to 
the  inoffensive  Christians,  who,  in  consequence, 
were  cruelly  put  to  death  in  every  part  of  the 
empire.  During  this  terrible  time,  it  was,  that 
Justin  Martyr,  and  Poly  carp,  and  a  host  of 
other  excellent  men,  were  burned  to  death  or 
crucified. 

To  be  the  faithful  ruler  and  father  of  a  nation 
under  such  adverse  circumstances  was  not  an 
enviable  lot ;  and  the  efforts  of  Aurelius  to  per- 
form his  duty  during  this  trying  season,  even  if 
they  had  proved  less  successful,  were  enough 
to  confer  upon  him  immortal  glory.  Using,  in 
the  promptest  manner,  every  means  to  stay  the 
awful  pestilence,  and  providing  as  well  as  he 
could  for  those  who  were  famishing  for  food,  he 
collected,  with  the  least  delay,  the  forces  of  the 
empire,  and  dragging  Yerus  from  the  sensual 


THE   ANTONINES.  181 

Death  of  Verus— The  barbarians  subdued. 

delights  of  Rome,  into  which  he  had  plunged 
himself,  marched  at  the  head  of  his  legions  to 
drive  away  the  fierce  barbarians  who  had  come 
to  profit  by  the  miseries  of  his  subjects.  Not 
content  with  chasing  their  vast  armies  from  the 
soil  of  Italy,  he  even  pursued  them  beyond  the 
Alps ;  and  then  returned  to  Rome  with  a  loss 
of  men  so  small,  as  to  be  almost  incredible. 

But,  before  Aurelius  had  completed  this  vic- 
tory over  the  barbarians,  Yerus,  weary  of  the 
toils  of  war,  determined  to  return  to  the  pleas- 
ures which  he  had  unwillingly  left  at  Rome. 
While  journeying  slowly  thitherward,  he  was 
seized  with  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  which  put  an  end 
to  his  life,  and  thus  gave  Aurelius  sole  posses- 
sion of  the  empire. 

This  excellent  emperor  mourned  sincerely 
the  loss  of  his  unworthy  colleague,  and  used  all 
laudable  means  to  save  his  memory  from  the 
contempt  to  which  it  was  justly  entitled.  It  is 
reasonable,  however,  to  suppose  that,  for  the 
sake  of  Rome's  welfare,  he  rejoiced  to  be  able 
to  act  now  with  greater  diligence  and  success 
than  ever.  The  barbarians,  though  repulsed, 
and  even  driven  from  the  empire,  were  not  yet 
wholly  conquered ;  and  the  return  of  the  em- 
peror to  Rome  enabled  them  to  collect  in  still 
greater  numbers  to  harass  their  powerful  ene- 
16 


182  EMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

Further  difficulties  with  the  barbarians. 

my.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  for  Aure- 
lius  to  take  the  field  once  more;  and  he  pre- 
pared himself,  accordingly,  for  a  long  and  vig- 
orous campaign.  Indeed,  it  was  several  years 
before  these  obstinate  barbarians  could  be  sub- 
dued ;  but  the  perseverance  of  Aurelius  finally 
accomplished  it,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
accept  such  terms  of  peace  as  he  thought  fit  to 
propose  to  them. 

Disbanding  now  his  armies,  in  the  hope  that 
he  had  secured  his  empire  against  further  diffi- 
culties with  the  troublesome  people  who  sur- 
rounded it,  he  applied  himself  to  such  matters 
of  internal  policy  as  seemed  to  demand  his  at- 
tention. The  public  expenses  were  greatly 
diminished  through  his  care ;  the  useless  and 
demoralizing  shows  and  sports  exhibited  in  the 
amphitheatre  were  lessened,  and  the  luxuries  of 
the  great  very  much  restrained,  as  well  by  his 
own  example,  as  by  the  wise  regulations  which 
it  was  in  his  power  to  enact. 

But  the  hope  which  he  had  entertained  con- 
cerning the  barbarians,  rested  upon  a  false 
foundation ;  and  his  zealous  efforts  to  promote 
the  happiness  and  welfare  of  his  people  at 
home,  were  suddenly  interrupted  by  ravages 
upon  his  empire,  carried  on  with  even  greater 
fmy  than  before.  All  the  nations,  indeed,  from 


THE   AXTONINES.  183 

A  remarkable  battle. 

Illyricum  to  the  farthest  parts  of  Gaul,  had 
united  to  take  up  arms  against  him,  while  he, 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  fancied  peace,  had  suf- 
fered his  broken  legions  to  remain  unrecruited, 
and  his  empty  treasury  to  continue  unre- 
plenished. 

AVith  the  energy  peculiar  to  him,  however, 
he  soon  repaired  his  shattered  forces,  by  large 
enlistments  of  slaves  and  gladiators;  and,  in 
order  to  raise  money,  sold  all  the  movables  of 
the  empire,  with  the  costly  furniture  which  had 
been  deposited,  in  endless  variety,  in  the  cabi- 
nets of  his  predecessors.  Some  idea  of  this 
sale  may  be  obtained  from  the  fact  that  it  con- 
tinued, uninterrupted,  for  the  space  of  two 
months.  In  the  mean  time  his  preparations 
went  on  with  the  greatest  activity ;  and  his  nu- 
merous enemies,  one  after  another,  were  soon 
compelled  to  fly  from  his  territories,  or  to  yield 
themselves  as  slaves. 

One  of  the  battles  fought  during  these  cam- 
paigns, and  which  resulted  in  great  benefit  to 
the  Christians,  is  often  related  on  account  of 
the  miraculous  circumstances  accompanying  it. 
This  1  >attle  was  commenced  by  an  army  of  the 
barbarians,  near  the  border  of  a  shallow  stream, 
which  separated  them  from  the  Koman  legions. 
The  attack  was  so  vigorous  that  the  Romans 


184  EMPIRE   OF  EOME. 

Miraculous  deliverance  of  the  Romans. 

were  induced  to  ford  the  stream,  in  order  to 
punish  the  enemy  with  greater  severity ;  but 
the  latter  fled  immediately  towards  the 
neighboring  mountains,  at  the  same  time 
tempting  the  Eomans,  in  various  ways,  to  fol- 
low them. 

By  degrees,  Aurelius  and  his  troops  found 
themselves  in  the  narrow  passes  of  the  moun- 
tains, surrounded  on  every  side  by  precipitous 
rocks,  exposed  to  the  intense  rays  of  a  summer 
sun,  and  utterly  destitute  of  water.  The  sol- 
diers, weaned  by  the  useless  pursuit  of  their 
cunning  foes,  and  fainting,  for  want  of  some- 
thing to  quench  their  intolerable  thirst,  dropped 
down  by  hundreds  upon  the  inhospitable  rocks. 
Aurelius  went  about,  in  person,  doing  eveiy 
thing  in  his  power  to  relieve  their  distress,  and 
to  animate  their  courage. 

In  the  mean  time  the  barbarians  collecting 
in  vast  numbers,  began  to  make  preparations  to 
take  the  exhausted  Romans  an  easy  prey.  But 
just  as  they  were  about  to  fall  upon  them,  it  is 
said  that  a  Christian  legion,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Aurelius,  fell  down  upon  their  knees, 
and  united  in  the  most  earnest  supplications  to 
Heaven  for  deliverance.  Immediately  a  dark 
cloud,  moving  over  the  heads  of  the  contending 
armies,  discharged  upon  the  Romans  a  refresh- 


THE  ANTONINES.  185 

Conspiracy  of  Avidlus  Casius. 

ing  shower,  and,  at  the  same  time,  sent  down 
upon  their  enemies  a  terrible  storm  of  hail, 
which,  slaying  them  by  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands, accomplished  the  salvation  of  the  Roman 
army.  Such  was  the  effect  of  this  miraculous 
assistance  upon  Aurelius,  that  he  caused  the 
persecution  against  the  Christians  to  be  sus- 
pended, and  wrote  to  the  Senate  a  letter  in 
their  behalf. 

But  the  emperor  had  scarcely  achieved  his 
conquest  of  the  barbarians,  when  a  dangerous 
conspiracy  was  concerted  against  him  by  Avi- 
dius  Casius,  one  of  his  favorite  generals,  who 
was  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army  in  the  East. 
This  man  had  acquired  a  great  military  reputa- 
tion, by  his  success  in  the  wars  upon  the  Par- 
thians;  and  he  was,  moreover,  held  in  great 
esteem  by  all  the  virtuous  portion  of  the  em- 
pire, on  account  of  the  excellent  discipline 
which  he  had  introduced  into  the  army.  A 
selfish  desire  to  promote  his  own  interests, 
seemed,  however,  to  be  his  motive  for  gaining 
popularity ;  and,  as  soon  as  he  believed  that  he 
had  secured  enough  of  public  favor,  he  caused 
a  report  to  be  circulated  that  Aurelius  was 
dead,  and  then  proclaimed  himself  emperor  in 
Syria,  declaring,  at  the  same  time,  that  his 
object  was  the  re-establishment  of  the  for- 


186  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Aurelius's  treatment  of  the  conspiracy. 

mer  commonwealth  of  Korne.  By  such  pre- 
tensions, he  succeeded,  soon,  in  drawing  im- 
mense bodies  of  men  under  his  command, 
and,  in  a  short  time,  brought  all  the  countries, 
from  Syria  to  Mount  Taurus,  under  his  subjec- 
tion. 

When  the  news  of  this  conspiracy  was  brought 
to  Aurelius,  he  listened  to  it  without  the  least 
manifestation  of  fear,  but,  at  the  same  time,  be- 
gan to  make  preparations  to  oppose  it,  telling 
his  soldiers  that  he  would  freely  yield  the  em- 
pire to  Avidius,  if  such  a  measure  would  be 
most  conducive  to  the  public  good. 

"  I  am  ready,"  said  he  to  them,  "  to  meet 
Avidius  before  the  Senate,  and  before  you,  and 
to  yield  to  him  the  empire,  without  the  shed- 
ding of  blood,  or  striking  a  blow,  if  it  shall  be 
thought  for  the  public  good.  But  Avidius  will 
never  submit  to  such  a  tribunal ;  he  who  has 
been  faithless  to  his  benefactor,  can  never  rely 
upon  any  man^s  professions.  He  will  not,  even 
in  case  of  being  defeated,  rely  on  me.  And 
yet,  my  fellow-soldiers,  my  only  fear  is  that  he 
may  put  an  end  to  his  own  life,  or  that  some 
one,  thinking  to  do  me  a  service,  should  hasten 
his  death.  The  greatest  hope  that  I  have,  is  to 
prove  that  I  can  pardon  the  greatest  offences ; 
to  make  him  my  friend  in  spite  of  his  reluc- 


THE  ANTONINES.  187 

The  conspiracy  defeated. 

tance,  and  to  show  the  world  that  even  civil 
wais  may  have  a  happy  issue." 

Avidius  left  no  means  untried  to  strengthen 
iii>  power.  His  efforts  to  gain  partisans  in  cer- 
tain quarters,  especially  in  Greece,  were  not  so 
{Successful  as  he  anticipated,  and  his  offers  to 
some  of  the  provinces  were  rejected  with  con- 
tempt. Indeed,  the  excellent  Aurelius  had  ob- 
tained such  a  strong  hold  upon  almost  the  en- 
tire world,  that  it  is  surprising  that  Avidius 
should  have  succeeded  even  as  well  as  he  did. 
Much  of  his  success  was,  doubtless,  due  to  his 
former  good  character,  and  the  reported  death 
of  Aurelius.  When  his  duplicity  became  ap- 
parent, and  the  fact  concerning  the  emperor's 
well-being  established,  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  Avidius  began  to  regard  him  with  contempt, 
and,  finally,  only  four  months  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  revolt,  they  slew  him.  His 
head  was  carried  to  Aurelius,  who  received  it 
with  many  expressions  of  regret,  and  ordered 
it  to  be  decently  interred. 

Those  who  were  engaged  in  this  conspiracy 
of  Avidius,  were  treated  with  the  utmost  len- 
iency by  Aurelius,  who  would  not  suffer  one  of 
them  to  receive  any  greater  punishment  than 
banishment.  The  friends  of  Aurelius  took  the 
liberty  to  blame  him  for  this  leniency,  telling 


188  EMPIRE   OF   ROME. 

Aurelius  makes  a  journey  into  the  East. 

him  that  Avidius  would  not  have  been  so  gen- 
erous had  he  been  the  conqueror.  To  which 
the  emperor  made  the  following  reply,  so  ad- 
mirably illustrative  of  the  security  to  be  found 
in  the  conscientious  discharge  of  all  the  duties 
of  life :  u  I  never  served  the  gods  so  ill,"  said 
he,  "or  lived  so  irregularly,  as  to  fear  that 
Avidius  could  be  the  conqueror." 

Not  long  after  this  event,  Aurelius  took  a 
journey  into  the  East,  where  he  feared  the  ex- 
ample of  Avidius  might  have  a  pernicious  in- 
fluence. His  absence  from  Home  continued  for 
the  long  space  of  eight  years,  during  which  time 
he  visited  a  large  number  of  provinces,  charm- 
ing every  one  by  his  affability,  and  raising,  if 
it  were  possible,  the  admiration  in  which  his 
worth  and  talents  were  everywhere  held.  At 
Athens,  where  he  remained  some  time,  he 
seemed  to  devote  himself  entirely  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  people,  inquiring  into  their  wants, 
and  advising  them  as  to  their  interests.  He 
conferred  many  honors  upon  the  inhabitants, 
and  established  among  them  professors  in  vari- 
ous sciences,  providing  abundant  means  for 
their  proper  maintenance. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  joy  which  pre- 
vailed throughout  all  Italy,  when  Aurelius  re- 
turned from  his  long  sojourn  in  the  East.  The 


THE  ANTONINES.  189 

His  return— His  devotion  to  philosophy. 

inhabitants  of  the  various  towns  through  which 
he  passed,  went  out  in  crowds  to  meet  him,  and 
every  honor  was  paid  to  his  distinguished 
worth.  Laving  aside  his  military  dress  as  soon 
as  he  touched  the  soil,  and  even  obliging  the 
soldiers  who  accompanied  him  to  do  the  same, 
he  journeyed  towards  Rome,  and  entered  it, 
not  as  a  conqueror,  but  like  a  simple  citi- 
zen. Here  he  distributed  large  sums  of  money 
among  his  delighted  subjects,  and  remitted 
taxes  which  had  been  accumulating  for  many 
years. 

Not  long  after  his  return,  he  named  his  son 
Commodus  as  his  successor  to  the  empire,  and 
then,  retiring  to  a  beautiful  country-seat,  spent 
some  time  in  studying  philosophy,  which  was  not 
with  him  a  subject  of  mere  speculation :  such,  it 
is  said,  was  the  tranquillity  of  his  mind,  that  he 
was  never  observed  to  feel  any  emotion,  nor  to 
change  the  expression  of  his  countenance,  either 
in  joy  or  in  sorrow.  The  fruits  of  his  studies 
are  found  in  a  work,  still  extant,  known  as  his 
Meditations,  and  which  was  written  by  him  in 
the  Greek  language. 

Aurelius  was  now  far  advanced  in  life,  and 
justly  entitled  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his 
days  in  undisturbed  repose ;  but  this  was  not 
destined  to  be  his  fortune.  The  Scythians,  and 


190  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

His  expedition  against  the  Scythians — Sickness  of  Aurelius. 

other  barbarous  nations,  took  up  arms  once 
more  against  the  empire,  and  invaded  it  with 
all  the  fury  which  they  had  exhibited  upon  for- 
mer occasions.  Notwithstanding  his  increased 
years,  Aurelius  made  the  most  active  prepara- 
tions to  repel  their  dangerous  incursions,  and, 
despite  the  earnest  remonstrances  of  his  peo- 
ple, went  forth  in  person  to  defend  his  country. 
But  his  subjects,  fearing  that  they  would  never 
see  him  again,  would  not  let  him  set  out  until 
he  had  given  them  instructions  for  their  future 
conduct.  Accordingly,  after  spending  three 
whole  days  in  giving  them  short  maxims,  by 
which  they  might  regulate  their  lives,  he  de- 
parted ii] "Hi  his  expedition,  amidst  the  prayers 
and  lamentations  of  all  his  people. 

The  usual  courage  and  prudence  of  Aurelius 
resulted  in  the  conquest  of  his  enemies,  during 
this  campaign.  But  in  the  third  year  of  the 
war  he  was  seized  with  the  plague  at  Yinde- 
bona,  a  city  now  known  by  the  name  of  Vien- 
na. From  the  first  moment  of  his  attack,  he 
seemed  to  be  aware  that  his  end  had  come,  and 
with  undiminished  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of 
his  country,  he  desired  to  spend  his  remaining 
breath  in  its  behalf.  Gathering,  therefore,  his 
principal  officers  about  his  bed,  he  imparted  to 
them  such  advice  as  he  thought  would  be  of 


THE    ANTONINES.  191 

IDs  anxiety  for  his  sou— His  death. 

service  to  them  aiid  to  the  public.  It  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  conceal  the  uneasiness  which 
he  felt  at  leaving  the  empire  in  the  hands  of  so 
unpromising  a  person  as  his  son  Commodus; 
and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  implore  those  who 
were  around  him  to  provide  good  examples 
and  instructions  for  this  unworthy  heir  to  the 
reign  ty. 

"Make  him  particularly  sensible,"  said  the 
dying  emperor,  "  that  not  all  the  riches  and 
honors  of  the  world  are  sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
luxury  and  ambitiim  «.»!'  a  tyrant;  nor  are  the 
strongest  guards  and  armies  able  to  defend  him 
from  the  just  rewards  of  his  crimes.  Assure 
him  that  cruel  princes  never  enjoy  a  long  and 
peaceful  reign  ;  and  that  all  the  real  delights  of 
power  are  reserved  for  those,  only,  whose  clem- 
ency and  mildness  have  gained  them  the  hearts 
of  the  people." 

Thus,  occupied  with  the  welfare  of  his  coun- 
try, died  the  excellent  Aurelius  in  the  fifty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  twentieth  of  his 
reign ;  and  a  sad  event  it  was  for  Rome,  whose 
glory  and  prosperity  seemed  to  have  been 
buried  with  him.  Bad  emperors  enough  had 
already  occupied  the  throne,  but  henceforth 
they  were  to  be  more  numerous  than  ever.  The 
barbarous  enemies,  heretofore  so  successfully 


192  E'MPIRE    OF    KOME. 

Factions  and  conspiracies. 

beaten  off,  were  to  become  more  dangerous,  and 
more  obstinate.  Factions  and  conspiracies 
were  to  become  greatly  multiplied,  and  patriot- 
ism to  diminish  year  by  year  until  finally 
extinct 


THE  PRAETORIAN  GUARDS. 

FROM  181  TO  235  A.  D. 


140 


EARLY  conduct  of  Cominodus— lli>  hatn •<!  of  the  Senate — 
Infamous  behavior  of  Oleander,  and  its  consequences — Bru- 
tality of  Comraodus — His  performances  in  the  circus — Con- 
spiracy against  him — His  death — Klcvatinn  of  iVrtinax — 
His  virtuous  reign — The  Pratt  uian  guards— Their  i institu- 
tion— Tlu-ir  usurpation  of  power — Their  sale  of  the  empire 
at  auction — Its  purchase  by  ]>idius  .lulianus-  His  ti-eatineiit 
by  the  I'ra-torians— Srvenis  made  emperor — The  I'ra  torians 
disbanded — Severus  and  his  rivals-— Overthrow  of  Nip T — 
Sc\ems's  e.\i>edition  int«>  I'.ritain  His  death—  Quarrels  be- 
twceu  Caracalla  and  Geta — Caracalla  made  emperor  by  tlic 
Praetorian  guards — Jealousy  between  officers  of  tin-  miard— 
Conspiracy  against  Caracalla — Macrinus  made  emperor — He 
inrur>  tin-  hatred  of  (lie  soldiers — He  is  slain — The  elevation 
of  II«-li..i:abalus  His  follies — He  is  slain  by  the  guard — 
Alexander  made  emperor — His  v  .tions — His  mili- 

tary expeditious — The  conspiracy  of  Maximiu. 


A  ROYAL  GLADIATOR 


VIII. 

THE  PRUTORIAN  GUARDS, 


IT  was  very  unfortunate  t<>r  Home  tliat  Aure- 
lius  ^hould  have  been  willing  to  place  its  des- 
tiny in  the  hands  of  a  worthless  young  man  like 
his  son  Commodus.  He  did  it,  howevei . 
without  employing  every  means  within  his 
power  to  prevent  the  mischief  which  was  likely 
to  ensue  from  the  elevation  to  supreme  power 
of  a  youth  of  nineteen  years,  possessed  of  a  very 
narrow  mind,  and  addicted  to  the  worst  of  vices. 
Indeed  Commodus  listened,  for  a  season,  to  the 
wise  counsellors,  to  whom  his  father  had  sol- 
emnly committed  him ;  and  the  difficult  war 
against  the  barbarians,  in  which  the  empire 
was  engaged  when  lie  succeeded  to  the  throne, 
continued  to  be  prosecuted  with  much  success. 
He  took  the  burden  of  the  campaign  upon  his 
own  shoulders,  and  seemed,  at  first,  to  sustain 
it  with  all  the  ability  displayed  by  his  incom- 


198  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Early  conduct  of  Commodus. 

parable  father.  But,  by  degrees,  dissolute  per- 
sons of  his  own  age,  with  whom  he  had,  hitherto, 
been  forbidden  to  associate,  began  to  find  ac- 
cess to  him,  and,  finally,  to  have  more  influence 
over  him  than  the  excellent  instructors  under 
whom  he  had  been  placed. 

It  was  through  their  advice,  accompanied  by 
the  tempting  descriptions  which  they  gave  of 
the  pleasures  of  Rome,  that  he  was  induced  to 
abandon  the  campaign  in  which  he  had  en- 
gaged, and  return  to  tin-  city.  P>ut  even  alter 
taking  this  step,  he  c<>ul<l  not,  at  once,  turn  a 
deaf  ear  to  the  counsels  <>!'  the  worthy  men  to 
whom  his  lather  had  commended  him.  For 
the  sj.ace  of  three  years,  being  more  or  less  un- 
der their  control,  no  material  change  could  be 
seen  in  the  government  of  the  empire,  though 
the  youthful  monarch  indulged,  without  re- 
straint, in  every  species  of  debauchery. 

It  is impo>sible  to  tell  to  what  extremities  of 
wickedne><  his  love  of  sensual  pleasures  might 
have  carried  him.  He  does  not,  however,  see  ni 
to  have  been  guilty  of  bloodshed,  until  an  at- 
tempt was  first  made  upon  his  own  life.  This 
happened,  upon  a  certain  occasion,  as  he  was 
going  through  one  of  the  passages  of  the  am- 
phitheatre. An  assassin  came  suddenly  upon 
him,  and,  brandishing  a  drawn  sword,  cried 


PRAETORIAN  GUARDS.  199 

Commodus  becomes  enraged  at  the  Senate. 

out,  "Traitor,  the  Senate  sends  tliee  this!*' 
I  Jut  the  imprudent  assassin  was  seized  by  some 
of  the  emperor's  guards,  before  he  could  eiK-ct 
his  purpose;  and  his  subsequent  confessions 
fixed  the  crime  upon  the  emperor's  sister,  who 
afterwards  suffered  death  for  this  abominable 
act. 

But  Commodus  was  not  satisfied  with  the 
punishment  of  those  who  were  doubtless  con- 
cerned in  this  conspiracy  against  his  Hie.  The 
words  of  the  assassin  inspired  him  with  the 
most  bitter  hatred  against  the  Senate;  and  his 
suspicion,  alone,  of  this  body,  was  sufficient  to 
lirinir  forward  those  who  were  ready  to  accuse 
its  members,  for  the  sake  of  the  rewards  which 
they  were  sure  to  receive.  Numbers  of  them 
in  this  way  suffered  death,  and  many  profligate 
men  were  really  enriched  by  the  mo>t  atrocious 
murders.  Among  those  who  thus  acquired  un- 
bounded wealth  was  one  Perennis,  an  unprinci- 
pled man,  to  whom  Commodus  had  committed 
the  care  of  the  government,  while  he  himself  was 
buried  in  his  pleasures.  Perennis,  becoming  at 
length  one  of  the  richest  men  in  Rome,  began 
to  aspire  to  the  empire,  and  by  means  of  his 
great  wealth,  was  enabled  to  find  enough  of 
those  who  were  willing  to  aid  him  in  his  enter- 
prise. Ill  success,  which,  sooner  or  later,  is  sure 


200  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Plot  against  Commodus — Its  consoquencee. 

to  attend  bad  men,  finally  visited  him  ;  and  the 
immense  treasures  which  he  had  accumulated, 
were  insufficient  to  save  him  from  the  anger  of 
Commodus.  As  soon  as  the  plot  of  Perennis 
was  discovered,  he  and  his  sons  were  all  put  to 
death. 

The  emperor  finding  himself  thus  surrounded 
by  persons  who  were  willing  to  take  his  life, 
began  to  grow  still  more  regardless  of  the  lives 
of  others,  and  the  best  men  of  Rome,  conse- 
quently, fell  daily,  a  sacrifice  to  his  unjust  sus- 
picions, or,  to  his  abominable  avarice.  This 
cruelty,  very  naturally,  rendered  his  reign  more 
odious,  and  his  death  more  desirable.  Conspi- 
racies, therefore,  multiplied ;  desertions,  also, 
took  place  among  his  troops,  and  revolts  oc- 
curred among  his  provinces.  The  murmurs  of 
the  people  broke  out  into  open  rebellion ;  and 
pestilence  and  famine,  finally,  filling  up  the 
measure  of  their  calamity,  they  dared  to  op- 
pose the  bloody  tyrant.  At  this  time  it  was 
that  Cleander,  the  successor  of  Perennis,  and  a 
great  favorite  of  the  emperor,  fell  a  'sacrifice  to 
the  fury  of  the  populace. 

This  execrable  minister  of  Commodus,  by 
rendering  himself  useful  to  the  passions  of  his 
master,  and  by  exhibiting  an  utter  want  of  vir- 
tue, had  acquired  an  authority  little  inferior  to 


PRJGTORIAN  GUARDS.          201 

Infamous  conduct  of  Oleander— Fury  of  the  people. 

that  of  the  emperor.  This  authority  being 
exercised,  however,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of 
gratifying  his  own  avarice,  was  accorded, 
without  any  limitation,  to  Oleander.  Offices 
of  honor  and  trust  were  exposed  to  public  sale, 
by  this  infamous  man ;  and  wealthy  persons 
were  sometimes  compelled  to  give  their  entire 
fortunes  for  the  empty  title  of  Consul,  Patrician, 
or  Senator.  The  laws  were  also  administered 
by  him  without  any  regard  to  justice.  Inno- 
cent men  were  condemned,  in  order  that  he 
might  be  able  to  sell  to  them  a  pardon ;  and 
criminals,  justly  condemned,  could  purchase  a 
reversal  of  their  sentences. 

Commodus  had  a  share  of  the  wealth  ac- 
quired by  such  abominable  practices,  and  in 
order  that  it  might  still  continue  to  flow  in,  he 
undertook,  in  connection  with  Oleander,  to 
make  a  great  exhibition  of  liberality  by  erect- 
ing baths,  porticoes,  and  places  of  exercise  for 
the  people.  But  when,  during  the  famine,  Ole- 
ander attempted  to  monopolize  the  sale  of  corn, 
and  thus  to  fill  his  coffers,  the  people  rose  in 
mass,  and  declared  that  it  was  time  to  rid  the 
earth  of  such  a  monster.  The  palace  of  the 
emperor  was  besieged  by  angry  multitudes, 
who  demanded  the  head  of  the  public  enemy. 
Oleander,  terrified  by  such  a  furious  demonstra- 


202  KM  FIRE    OF    EOME. 

Death  of  Oleander — Brutality  of  Commodus. 

tion,  ordered  a  body  of  cavalry  to  fall  upon 
tJie  people ;  but  these  were  assailed  so  vigor- 
ously by  stones,  arrows,  and  other  missiles 
tin-own  upon  them  from  the  windows  and  house- 
tops, that  they  were  forced  to  retreat;  and 
Commodus,  at  last,  to  save  his  own  life,  ordered 
the  head  of  his  favorite  Oleander  to  be  cut  oft' 
and  thrown  among  the  crowd. 

Commodus,  from  the  window  of  his  palace, 
saw,  witli  the  utmost  inditl'erence,  the  head  of 
his  favorite  minister  kicked  about  tl 
and  turned  from  it  to  his  pleasures,  with  all  his 
usual  relish.     Every  of  humanity  had 

now  deserted  him.      Hi-  very  amusements,  in- 
deed. CMiisi-ted  of  cruelties,  such  as  would  have, 
shocked  the  nio-t  degraded  savages.     His  sub- 
tied  at  his  approach,  for  it  was  not  unu- 
sual for  him,  under  the  protection  of  his  guards, 
to  strike  at  them  with  his  sword,  cutting  oif  an 
or  limb,    and    frequently    killing 
them  in  the  very  thoroughfares.     On  one  occa- 
sion, dressing  himself  in  the  costume  of  Hercu- 
les, and  armed  with  a  heavy  club,  he  went  into 
the  street,  and  entering  a  group  of  beggars  and 
cripple-,  whom  he  had  caused  to  be  collected 
her,   fell  upuii   them   and  beat  several  to 
death  before  they  could  make  their  escape. 

Commodus  is  said  to  have  been  the  only  one 


PR^TORIAN  GUARI  203 

Hi*  piTformaiuv  in  the  circus. 

of  the  Human  emperors  who  liad  not  the  least 
for  any  of  the  liberal  arts.  Even  Nero 
wa<  fond  of  poetry  and  music,  but  the  pleasures 
of  Coramodus  were  not  elevated  above  those  of 
the  very  lowest  of  the  people.  "When  he  was 
not  occupied  in  gratifying  his  beastly  lusts,  he 
might  be  found  enu-auvd  in  the  exercises  of  the 
circus  or  the  amphitheatre  ;  and,  indeed,  he  ac- 
quired great  skill  in  shooting  with  the  bow.and 
in  throwing  the  javelin.  Flattered,  like  Xero, 
by  the  prdliirate  men  who  surrounded  him,  he 
determined,  at  length,  to  u'ive  exhibitions  of  his 
strength  and  dexterity;  and  the  amphitheatre 
was  crowded  by  his  curious  subject-,  when  they 
learned  that  they  were  to  be  entertained  by  an 
imperial  performer.  lie  stepped  into  the  arena, 
armed  with  bow  and  arrows;  and  as  lions  or 
panthers  were,  one  by  one,  let  loose  upon  him, 
he  sent  his  unerring  shafts,  alternately,  through 
their  heads  or  hearts.  With  arrows  shaped 
liked  a  crescent,  it  is  said  that  he  could  cut  off 
the  head  of  an  ostrich  while  running  at  its 
greatest  speed. 

Not  content  with  such  a  degrading  exhibi- 
tion of  himself,  he  even  entered  the  lists  as  a 
gladiator,  a  profession  which  had  been  long 
branded  as  infamous.  His  favorite  character, 
on  these  occasions,  was  that  of  the  Secutor,  who, 


204  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

His  conduct  censured  by  his  friends — Ills  fury. 

armed  with  a  helmet,  sword,  and  buckler,  met 
his  antagonist,  the  Retio/rius.  The  latter  was 
furnished  with  a  net,  with  which  he  tried  to 
entangle  his  adversary,  and  with  a  trident  with 
which  he  sought  to  slay  him.  It  is  said  that  in 
this  character  he  fought  seven  hundred  and 
thirty-five  times. 

Lietius  his  general, Electafl  his  chamberlain, 
and  Marcia  one  of  his  female  favorites,  remon- 
strated with  him  on  this  abominable  conduct. 

their  advice  only  served  to  make  him 
:  and  a<  death  alone  was  aji  adequate 
punishment  f<>r  ih«»-e  who  offended  him,  he 
phuvd  their  names  among  those  in  his  tablets 
whom  In-  determined  to  destroy.  Like  Domi- 
tian.  being  one  day  careless  enough  to  leave  this 

i  \n>  apartment,  while  taking  a  bath  in  an 
adjoining  room,  it  was  picked  up  by  a  little 
child  and  carried  to  Marcia.  who  was  only  too 
eurioii-  to  examine  it.  Shocked  by  di<c<>\vr- 
ing  her  own  name  among  the  number  of  those 
condemned  by  the  tyrant  to  death,  she  ran  with 
the  fatal  list  to  La-tius  and  Electus,  who  were 
no  less  terrified  at  finding  their  own  names  as- 
sociated with  here. 

These  three  persons,  without  hesitation,  re- 
solved to  seize  the  first  opportunity  to  poison 
Commodus ;  and  in  accordance  with  this  reso- 


PKJETORIAN    GUARDS.  205 

Conspiracy  against  Commodus — Its  result. 

lution,  a  deadly  draught  was  soon  after  admin- 
i-d  to  him  by  the  hands  of  Marcia.  The 
immediate  effect  of  the  poti<>n  was  to  throw  him 
into  a  profound  slumber,  during  which,  all  his 
attendants  were  removed  from  the  apartment, 
under  pretence  that  he  needed  rest.  Awaken- 
:n  a  short  time,  lie  began  to  vomit  violent- 
ly; and  Maivia  fearing  that  he  might  finally 
recover,  >uminoned  to  her  assistance  a  young 
man  named  Narcissus,  wln»,  with  her  aid, 
strangled  the  unconscious  emperor.  Thus, 
a  reign  of  twelve  years,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
one,  died  one  of  the  HKM  execrable  immarchs 
that  ever  disgraced  the  Unman  empire. 

So  much  secrecy  had  been  observed  by  the 
conspirators,  that  the  death  of  Commodus  was 
not  known  until  his  body  had  been  removed 
from  the  palace,  and  a  person  selected  to  fill  the 
vacant  throne.  This  person  wa<  Jlelvius  Per- 
tinax,  the  praefect  of  the  city,  a  senator  of  con- 
sular rank,  whose  merit  had  elevated  him  from 
the  lowest  position  to  the  highest  offices  of  the 
empire.  The  son  of  a  liberated  slave,  he  had 
been  successively  a  shop-keeper,  a  school-mas- 
ter, a  lawyer,  and  a  soldier.  In  the  last  station 
he  exhibited  so  much  courage  and  wisdom,  that 
he  was  made  commander  of  a  legion,  by  Au- 
relius,  and,  subsequently,  governor  of  Dacia, 

18 


206  EMPIRE   OF   ROME. 

Kelvins  Pertinax  and  the  conspirators — Pertitiax  made  emperor. 

Syria,  and  Asia  Minor.  Although  Commodus 
had  banished  him  on  account  of  his  virtues,  he 
was,  afterwards,  willing  to  recall  him  and  make 
him  prefect  of  the  city,  on  account  of  his  emi- 
nent abilities. 

As  soon  as  the  emperor  was  dead,  Lsetius, 
the  Praetorian  prefect,  and  Electus,  the  cham- 
berlain, ran  from  the  palace,  notwithstanding  it 
was  midnight,  and  knocking  at  the  door  of 
Pertinax,  demanded  entrance.  On  learning 
the  names  of  his  visitors,  Pertinax,  supposing 
that  they  had  been  commissioned  by  the  empe- 
ror to  hike  liis  life,  bade  them  come  in  and  ex- 
ecute their  master's  orders.  And  when  they 
told  him  that  Commodus  was  dead,  and  that 
they  had  (•-•me  to  offer  to  him  the  empire,  he 
-•  d  1o  trust  them,  believing  that  this  was 
only  a  mad  prank  ••['  the  tyrant,  intended 
prelude  to  his  own  destruction.  Convinced,  at 
at  length,  that  they  were  not  deceiving  him,  he 
consented  with  great  reluctance  to  accept  the 
crown,  and  wau  conducted  with  as  little  delay 
as  possible  to  the  camp  of  the  Praetorian  bands, 
where  it  was  immediately  announced  that 
Commodus  had  died  of  apoplexy,  and  that 
Pertinax  had  succeeded  him. 

The  astonished  soldiers  having  agreed  to  ac- 
cept the  new  emperor,  the  Senate  was  called 


PRAETORIAN  GUARDS.  207 

Joy  of  the  people. 

together,  at  dawn  of  day,  to  ratify  the  choice 
thus  made.  Their  surprise  was  not  less  than 
that  of  Pertinax  ;  but,  when  they  had  recovered 
from  it,  they  made  the  Senate  House  resound 
with  their  expressions  of  indignation  against 
the  tyrant,  and  of  joy  at  being  delivered  from 
him.  They  decreed,  at  once,  to  erase  his  name 
from  the  public  monuments,  to  throw  down  his 
statues,  to  drag  his  body  with  a  hook  to  the 
-ing-rooms  of  the  gladiators,  for  the  public 
gaze,  and  thence  to  throw  it  on  a  dunghill. 

Legal  and  just  as  were  those  decrees,  Perti- 
nax prevented  such  an  unnecessary  display  of 
rage ;  and,  from  respect  to  the  memory  of 
Aureliu-.  permitted  the  body  of  Commodus  to 
have  a  decent  burial,  lie  knew  that  a  virtuous 
life  on  his  part  would  be  the  most  effectual  way 
of  condemning  the  vices  of  his  predecessor; 
and  he  accordingly  began,  even  upon  the  day 
of  his  accession,  to  show  the  people  that  neither 
pride,  nor  jealousy,  nor  pomp,  nor  luxury,  were 
indispensable  to  the  dignity  of  an  emperor. 
His  wife  was  not  permitted,  like  former  em- 
presses, to  be  styled  Augusta,  and  he  forbade 
his  son  to  take  the  rank  of  Caesar.  Different  in 
all  respects  from  his  predecessor,  he  banished 
from  the  palace  the  profligate  persons  who 
frequented  it,  and  gave  encouragement  to 


EMPIRE    OF    KOME. 


Virtuous  reign  of  Pertinax. 


those,  only,  who  were  distinguished  for  their 
virtues. 

Although  Pertinax  was,  at  this  time,  in  the 
sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  he  lacked  none  of 
the  vigor  essential  to  the  conduct  of  so  vast  an 
empire.  Had  he  been  allowed  a  longer  reign, 
he  might  have  brought  back  the  empire  to  the 
glnry  which  it  possessed  in  the  days  of  the  An- 
tonine<.  But  short,  even,  as  was  the  reign  of 
this  estimable  man,  he  did  much  to  repair  the 
injuries  done  by  Commodus.  By  economy  and 
industry.  In-  succeeded  in  replenishing  the  pub- 
lic trca-ury.  which  had  been  exhausted  through 
the  prodigality  of  his  predecessor.  The  worth- 
•ivontes  of  this  infamous  tyrant  were  com- 
pelled t<>  give  up  their  ill-gotten  treasures;  and 

9    who    had    been   r<>' 

through  his  rapacity,  were  put  in  possession  of 
their  wealth.  The  demands  of  the  just  cred- 
itors of  t;  -i-tied.  Innocent  vic- 
tims were  recalled  from  exile,  and  ivh 
from  prison;  and  hundreds  of  slaves,  who  were 
held  in  unlawful  bondage,  were  set  at  liberty. 
The  meanest  of  the  people  had  access  to  him, 
the  Senate  respected  him,  and  the  barbarous 
nations,  who  regarded  his  name  with  terror, 
laid  down  their  arms  when  they  knew  that  he 
had  succeeded  to  the  throne. 


PRAETORIAN  GUARDS.  209 

The  Prsetorian  guards—  Their  hatred  of  Pertinar. 


But  Homo  was  under  the  dominion  of  an 
abandoned  soldiery,  whose  manners  the 
mable  Pertinax  lia<l  vainly  labored  to  reform. 
So  !<>Mir  had  they  been  accustomed  to  the  indul- 
•  a?id  profusion  of  Comniodns,  that  they 
were  ivady  to  rebel  against  a  monarch,  wln»>e 
ju-tiee  lilled  the  people  with  joy,  while  it  de- 
prived them  of  the  hem-tits  which  they  had 
hitherto  derived  from  the  disorders  of  the  Slate. 
Indeed,  Pertinax  had  not  been  three  days  upon 
the  throne,  when  a  party  of  the  Pnetorian 
guards  sei/ed  upon  a  worthy  senator,  and,  car- 
rying him  to  the  camp,  wished  to  compel  him 
the  empire.  He  stoutly  refused  the 
dangerous  honor.  But,  not  long  after,  they 
Kided  Socius  Falco  to  receive  it,  and  a  con- 
spiracy was  formed,  which  was,  however, 
promptly  crushed  by  the  resolute  conduct  of 
the  emperor.  This  only  served  to  irritate  the 
•is  more;  and,  at  the  expiration  of 
about  three  months  from  the  accession  of  Per- 
tinax, a  general  sedition  broke  out  in  their 
camp,  which  it  was  impossible  to  control.  A 
large  body  of  soldiers  declaring  openly  that 
they  would  no  longer  endure  the  rule  of  Perti- 
nax, took  up  their  arms,  and  marched  towards 
the  imperial  palace. 

The  news  of  their  approach  preceded  them, 


210  EMPIRE    OF   KOME. 

Its  consequences — Institution  of  the  Praetorian  guards. 

and  the  friends  of  the  emperor,  hastening  to  his 
apartments,  besought  him  to  throw  himself  into 
the  hands  of  the  people,  and  entreat  of  them 
protection.  But  he  said,  in  reply,  that  it  was 
unworthy  his  imperial  dignity  and  all  his  past 
actions,  to  save  himself  by  flight.  In  the  mean 
time  the  rehels  entered  the  palace  gates,  which 
were  opened  by  their  accomplices  within,  and, 
rushing  furiously  into  the  chamber  of  the  em- 
peror, fell  upon  him  with  their  swords  and 
lances.  In  an  instant  his  bndy  rolled  upon  the 
floor,  covered  with  a  multitude  of  wounds.  By 
his  side  fell,  also,  Klectus,  and  several  of  his 
faithful  attendants,  \\l\n  vainly  endeavored  to 
defend  him.  His  head  was  then  separated 
from  his  body,  and,  placed  upon  the  point  of  a 
lance,  was  can-led  in  triumph  to  the  camp  of 
the  Praetorian  guards. 

These  Praetorian  bands,  so  frequently  men- 
tioned in  the  course  of  this  narrative,  and  into 
whose  hands  the  destiny  of  the  empire  seemed 
now  to  have  fallen,  were  instituted  by  Augus- 
tus to  protect  his  person  and  his  power.  They 
consisted,  originally,  of  ten  cohorts,  each  num- 
bering one  thousand  men,  horse  and  foot. 
They  were  distinguished  by  double  pay  and 
especial  privileges.  Their  term  of  service  was 
twelve  years ;  at  the  expiration  of  which  time, 


PK.ETORIAN  GUARDS. 


Their  demands. 


each  soldier  received  twenty  thousand  sesterces. 
Augustus  kept  but  three  of  these  cohorts  in  the 
city,  stationing  the  remainder  of  them  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Italy  ;  but  Tiberius,  about  fifty 
years  after,  under  pretence  of  introducing  a 
stricter  discipline,  assembled  them  all  in  Home, 
in  a  permanent  camp,  which  was  strongly  for- 
tified. 

These  powerful  bands,  established  in  the  very 
seat  of  the  empire,  and  regarded,  at  iir- 

ctors  of  the  Senate,  the  people,  and  the 
treasures,  perceived,  in  time,  that  it  was 
for  them  to  have  the  empire  entirely  under 
their  control.  At  first  they  exhibited  a  great 
deal  of  pride,  and  demanded  privileges  quite 
inconsistent  with  the  discipline  necessary  to  be 
observed  in  armies.  Indulged  by  successive 
emperors  in  their  pleasures  and  irregularities, 
they  began,  by  degrees,  to  regard  themselves 
as  an  independent  body,  and,  finally,  as  the 
highest  power  of  the  State.  From  the  time  of 
Claudius,  they  exacted  from  every  new  succes- 
sor to  the  throne,  a  large  donation  in  considera- 
tion of  their  protection  ;  and,  at  last,  an  em- 
peror could  not  be  appointed  without  their 
consent. 

The  dreadful  disposal  which  they  made  of 
the  worthy  Pertinax,  was  a  new  and  still  more 


212  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Their  usurpation  of  power. 

dangerous  assumption  of  power;  but  it  was, 
soon  after,  followed  by  an  act  too  shameful  to 
be  related.  When  the  party  who  had  under- 
taken the  destruction  of  Pertinax  had  accom- 
plished their  deadly  purpose,  the  people,  ac- 
knowledging. 21-  it  were,  a  power  greater  than 
the  thnnie,  and  even  than  themselves,  awaited 
in  patience  the  next  demonstration  of  the  thou- 
sand-headed tyrant  that  had  assumed  to  rule 
them.  Previous  to  the  bloody  act,  the  governor 
of  the  city.  Sulpicianus,  had,  it  is  true,  gone  to 
the  camp  for  the  purp«»c  <•!'  calming  the  tern- 
wit  h  any  hope  of  sue 

for  he  had  not  been  long  within  the  fortifica- 
tion-, when  the*  lu-ad  ••!'  hi>  >on-in-law,  the  em- 
peror, was  brought  thither  by  the  furiou- 

.  upon  the  point  of  a  lance.  It  is  natural 
to  suppose  that  he  would  have  lied  with  horror 
from  the  sight ;  but  the  brutal  man.  ga/.ing  with 
indifference  upon  the  ^ene.  began  to  urge  the 
claim  which  he  now  had  upon  the  vacant 
throne,  and  even  to  oiler  money  to  secure  it. 

But  a  vacant  throne  was  a  commodity  which 
the  Pnetorian  market  did  not  every  day  atl'ord, 
and  it  was  fair  to  suppose  that  a  handsome  1  jar- 
gain  might  now  be  made.  The  shrewdest  of 
the  band  having  taken  the  offer  of  Sulpicianus 
into  consideration,  concluded  that  it  was  too 


PRJETORIAX    (i  CARDS.  213 

They  offer  to  soil  the  empire  at  auction— The  bidders. 

small ;  and,  thereupon,  one  of  them  ran  out 
upon  the  ramparts,  and  bawled  out,  in  trumpet 
tones,  that  the  Roman  empire  would  be  sold, 
immediately,  at  public  auction,  to  the  highest 
bidder. 

The  news  flew  in  every  direction  through  the 
city,  and  presently  the  walls  of  the  Prretorian 
camp  were  be-et  by  crowds  of  the  wealthy  and 
shameless  men  of  Rome.  The  bidding  was 
spirited,  but  chiefly  conducted  by  Sulpicianus, 
and  Didin-  Julinuus.  a  man  -d  of  no 

other  commendation  for  the  exalted  office  than 
his  heaps  «>!' gold,  and  his  silly  wife  and  daugh- 
ters, who,  like  many  thousands  of  their  kind, 
imagined  glory  and  honor  to  be  the  attendants 
of  position,  and  not  of  ability  or  talents.  The 
highest  bid  of  Sulpicianus  was  one  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds  sterling  to  each  soldier.  This 
would  make  a  large  sum  when  multiplied  by 
ten  thousand  ;  but  Didius  was  anxious  to  secure 
the  prize,  and,  well  aware  that  he  could  never 
be  emperor  in  any  other  way,  rose  to  two  hun- 
dred pounds,  when  the  gates  of  the  camp  were 
thrown  open  to  the  despicable  purchaser  of 
empty  titles,  and  the  soldiers  swore  allegiance 
to  him. 

Soon  after  the  accomplishment  of  this  abomi- 
nable deed,  the  soldiers  conducted  Didius  to 


214  EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 

The  sale  and  delivery— Value  of  purchased  honors. 

the  Senate  House,  and  demanded  a  ratification 
of  their  choice.  "  Fathers,"  said  Did  ins,  as  he 
was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  assembled 
Senators,  "  you  want  an  emperor,  and  I  am  the 
fittest  person  you  can  choose."  More  words 
were,  of  course,  unnecessary,  under  the  circum- 
stances, and  Didius,  having  been  at  once  for- 
mally acknowledged  emperor  by  the  Senate, 
was  escorted  to  the  palace,  where  his  wife  and 
daughters  speedily  arrived,  to  share  the  brief 
honors  which  he  was  dotim-d  t'»  eiijny. 

The  people,  now  thoroughly  enraged  by  the 
shameful  conduct  of  the  Pnetorian  bands,  be- 
gan to  calculate  the  strength  which  they  c«»uld 
bring  against  them;  and,  reasonably  concluding 
that  the  numerous  legions  scattered  over  the 
empire  would  never  assent  to  such  an  assump- 
tion of  power  on  the  part  of  the  soldiery  at 
home,  they  caused  the  doings  at  Rome  to  be 
carried  to  them  with  all  dispatch.  In  the 
mean  time  they  refused  to  submit  to  the 
authority  of  Didius,  and  sought  every  op- 
portunity to  pour  forth  their  imprecations 
against  him,  and  to  ridicule  his  contemptible 
ambition. 

Pescemrius  Niger,  governor  of  Syria,  and 
Septimius  Severus,  commander  of  the  German 
legions,  on  hearing  what  had  taken  place  at 


PK^TORIAN  GUARDS.  215 

More  aspirants — Didius  in  difficulty — He  is  deserted  by  the  Praetorians. 

••,  n>«  >lved,  by  the  assistance  of  their  re- 
spective troops,  to  take  possession  of  the  em- 
pire. Each,  accordingly,  proclaimed  himself 
emperor.  But  while  Niger,  elated  by  the 
homage  paid  to  him  by  all  the  kings  and  poten- 
in  Asia,  was  giving  himself  up  to  feasting 
and  luxury,  Severus,  at  the  head  of  a  powerful 
army,  marched  with  all  speed  to  Rome. 

Poor  Didius,  who  had  not  dreamed  that  the 
throne  would  cost  him  any  thing  beyond  the 
purchase-money,  which  he  had  paid  into  the 
hands  of  the  Praetorian  soldiers,  was  utterly 
cuntniinded  at  the  prospect  of  parting,  possibly, 
with  a  portion  of  his  blood.  Resolving,  how- 
ever, to  make  the  best  of  his  unfortunate  posi- 
tion, he  begged  the  Senate  to  proclaim  Severus 
a  traitor;  and  when  they  had  gratified  him  in 
this  respect,  he  besought  the  Praetorian  cohorts 
to  aid  him  in  opposing  the  usurper.  But  the 
cohorts,  relishing  the  vices  and  luxuries  of 
Rome  more  than  the  dangers  and  fatigue  of 
war,  and  quite  indifferent,  moreover,  to  the 
cause  of  Didius,  concluded  to  remain  within 
their  camp,  and  suffer  this  affair  to  take  its 
course.  Advice  of  every  kind  was,  in  the  mean 
time,  profusely  lavished  upon  the  confounded 
Didius,  who,  at  last,  in  very  desperation,  sent 
an  embassy  to  Severus,  offering  to  receive  him 


216  EMPIRE    OF    ROME. 

His  fate — Severus  made  emperor. 

as  partner  in  the  empire ;  but  the  offer  was  re- 
jected with  contempt. 

By  this  time  the  Senate  had  become  so  thor- 
oughly disgusted  with  the  cowardice  and  in- 
conipetency  of  the  emperor,  that  they  decreed, 
unanimously,  that  he  should  be  deprived  of 
the  empire,  and  that  Severus  should  be  pro- 
claimed in  his  stead.  Not  content  with  this, 
they  decided,  also,  that  Didius  should  be  slain, 
and,  accordingly,  sent  to  the  palace 

f«»r  the  purpose  of  dispatching  hint    The  miser- 
able man  was  found   by  them,  weeping  in  the 
midst   <>t'  a  few  personal   friends,  who  had  not 
yet   deserted    him.       AVhen     the    executioners 
made    known    their    errand,   he    undertook    to 
•:i  with  them  <>n  the  subject,  declaring  that 
his  purcha-e  of  the   empire  wa<   no  crime,  and 
that  he  was  entitled  to  enjoy  it  for  the  natural 
1  of  his  life.     But  the  messengers  of  the 
Senate,  protesting  that  they  had   no  authority 
,ter  into  the  merits  of  the  case,  led  him 
into  the  secret  baths  of  the  palace,  where  lie 
paid  the  penalty  of  his  folly  and  of  his  pitiful 
ambition. 

Soon  after  this  the  Senate  sent  ambassadors 
to  Severus,  yielding  him  obedience,  and  grant- 
ing him  the  ensigns  and  the  usual  titles  of  em- 
pire. He  continued  his  march  towards  Rome, 


PRAETORIAN  <ir.\nDS.  217 

The  Praeiori&n  guards  disbanded. 

but,  while  yet  some  distance  from  the  city,  ho 
issued  his  commands  to  the  PnBtori&D  hands 
t<>  meet  him,  without  their  arms,  on  a  large 
plain,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  Avails. 
Afraid  to  disobey,  and  yet  Imping  to  gain  the 
favor  of  the  emperor,  they  maivhed  from  their 
camp,  arrayed  in  their  most  brilliant  costume, 
and  :  Branches  of  laurel  in  their  hands. 

The  emperor,  meeting  them  upon  the  appointed 

field,  canard  a  portion  <>f  his  army  to  surround 
them,  with  levelled  spears;  and,  while  they 
expecting  the  just  punishment  of  their 
gross  misconduct,  he  mounted  a  tribunal,  pre- 
viously erected,  and,  after  reproaching  them 
with  perfidy  and  cowardice,  caused  them  to  be 
stripped  of  their  splendid  urnaiin-nK  and  or- 
dered them,  under  penalty  of  death,  to  march, 
without  the  least  delay,  a  hundred  mi  Irs  from 
Eon 

Severus  then  entered  the  city  with  the  great- 
est military  pomp,  and  took  possession  of  the 
imperial  palace.  Promising  the  Senate  that  he 
would  reign  with  clemency  and  justice,  he 
sought  to  prove  his  love  of  virtue,  by  ordering 
the  burial  rites  of  Pertinax  to  be  celebrated 
with  the  utmost  magnificence.  He,  himself, 
pronounced  his  funeral  oration;  and,  at  its 
close,  .the  people  generally  agreed  that  the 

19 


218  K  M  r i  R E  OF  HOME. 

Severus  and  his  rivals. 

royal  euW5>t  was  worthy  to  supply  the  place 
of  that  much-lamented  prince. 

Although  Severus  had  been  thus  successful 
in  placing  himself  upon  the  throne,  he  feared 
tlu-  power  of  Peecennius  Niger,  the  governor 
of  Syria,  who  had  been  proclaimed  emperor  by 
the  vast  army  in  the  East,  and  acknowledged 
by  the  potentates  of  A>ia.  lie  was  al>o  jealous 
of  Clodius  Albinus,  commander  of  the  legions 
in  Hritain.  In  order  to  prevent  them  from 
uniting  their  forces  against  him,  he  cli< 
tliem  both  into  the  belief  that  he  had  no  suspi- 
ci"!i  of  them  ;  and.  at  the  >ame  time,  ma- 

accomplish  their  destruc- 
tion. l'nder  P  visiting  the  eastern 
pmviaeei  for  tin-  purpo^-  of  regulating  the  af- 
fairs •  •!'  that  portion  «.f  the  empire,  lie  marched 
thither  with  a  powerful  army,  and.  coming  sud- 
denly upon  Niger,  made  him  an  «  .In 
the-  mean  ti:  ..-mug  upon  Albinus  the 
rank  of  Caesar,  he  endeavored,  alter  his  vie 
in  the  1  rid  of  him  by  treachery. 
Writing,  accordingly,  a  letter  to  Albinus, 
whom  he  addressed  in  the  most  anVtioiiate 
manner,  he  recounted  his  signal  victory 

:d  begged  him  to  conduct  the  affairs 
of  Britain  with  a  view  to  their  common  inte 
This  letter  was  intrusted  to  some  of  the  crea- 


PRAETORIAN    UTARDS.  210 

Overthrow  of  Niger. 

-  of  Severn.-?,  with  instructions  that,  after  it 
had  been  read  by  Albinus,  they  should  obtain 
a  private  interview  with  him,  and  plunge  their 
'nto  his  heart.  But  Albinus,  being  no- 
tiiied  of  this  conspiracy,  proclaimed  himself 
emperor,  and,  crossing  into  Gaul,  at  the  head 
of  an  im:  : my,  inarched  forward  with  all 

speed  to  encounter  Severus.     A  battle  en 
between  them,  which  lasted  from  morning  till 
night  without  any  apparent  advantage  on  either 
Severn-,  Imwever,  conquered  in  the  end. 
Albinus  wa>  taken  prisoner,  and  his  head  sepa- 

l  from  his  body. 

I "nwilling  to  lead  an  inactive  life,  Se\v 
having  now  secured  himself  in  the  possession 
of  his  empire,  determined  to  make   war  upon 
the  Parthians  who  were  invading  his  i'mii 

•dec!  in  subduing,  and,  after 
taking  and  plundering  a  number  of  large  and 
wealthy  cities,  he  returned  to  Rome  in  triumph. 
Then  he  resolved  to  make  an  expedition  into 
Britain,  where  a  formidable  resistance  had  been 
made  to  the  Roman  power.  Before  setting  out, 
however,  Severus  appointed  his  two  sons,  Carr- 
calla  and  Geta,  joint  successors  in  the  empire. 
Taking  them  with  him,  he  landed  in  Britain, 
and  marched  immediately  against  the  Caledo- 
nians. Notwithstanding  the  prodigious  diffi- 


KM  PIKE  OF  ROME. 


Expedition  of  Severus  to  Britain—  His  death. 


culiie>  attending  this  expedition,  and  the  1- 

fifty  thousand  men  from  sickne—  and  fatigue, 
he  compelled  tin-  enemy  to  sue  I'm*  peace. 
tlie  better  security  of  the  country,  he  built  the 
famous  wall,  still  called  by  his  name,  which 
.ds  from  the  Solway  Frith  to  the  German 
Ocean. 

The  amazing  labor  which  he  had  1 
obliged  to  perform  during  this  campaign,  im- 
paired his  health  so  much,  that  he,  was  obliged 
t«»  retire  1"  York  in  order  to  obtain  repose.  JJut. 
it  was  in  vain  that  he  endeavored  to  regain  his 
strength.  Indeed,  it  was  still  further  reduced 
by  a  revolt  amoiii:  his  BOldiefB,  iiiMi^ated  by 
alia,  a  youn^  man  cntiivly  . 

man- 

aged to  r,  .    but  not  Ion--  afu-r,  in  the-  sixty- 

sixth  year  of  his  aLre  and  the-  iM^hU-enth  of  liis 

.  he  dii-.Lh-avini:  his  Btt  -rdin^  to 

liis  drelaration,  in  a  comparatively  flourishing 

condition. 

His  sons   Caracalla    and   Gcta.   the    fo: 

d  cnu-1,  the  latter  mild  and  mrrcitul, 
suctveded  to  the  throne.  They  were  cheerfully 
acknowh'd^-ed  by  the  people  ainl'the  provi: 
and  received,  on  their  return  to  Rome,  with 
\  demonstration  of  respect.  Hut  such  was 
the  enmity  which  existed  between  them,  that 


PR.ETORIAX   GTAUDS.  2-21 

The  Praetorians  make  Caracalla  emperor. 

they  could  not  meet  unless  each  was  surround- 
ed  by  a  numerous   train   of  armed  folio  v 
No  communication  was  allowed  between  their 
apartments   in   the   imperial  palace,  and  each 
fortified  his  chambers  with  the  utmost  dili- 
iujain>t  the  other.     A  proportion  Avas  made  to 
divide    the    empire    between    them,    and    this, 
doul.  uld  have  been  done,  had  not  the 

inlami>u>    ('aracalhi   resolved    upon   a   sp< 
mode  of  their  mutual  (parrels  to  an 

end.     At  the  entreaties  of  his  mother,  he  con- 

'1  to  meet  his  brother  in  her  apartment,  on 
ti-rm-  of  peace  and  reconciliation;  but,  con- 
trivipg  to  OOHC  MO  soldiers  clo-e  at  hand, 

,m-ed  them  to  rush  in,  at  a  prcc 

was  inhumanly  murdered  in 
the  very  arms  of  his  mother. 

The  indignation  of  the    people   would,   per- 

.  have  In  ed  upon  Caracalla,  but  he 

from  the  palace  to  the  Pnetorian  camp, 
where,  by  means  of  the  most  extravagant 
pron.  money,  he  secured  protection. 

These   soldiers,  oolite   .  ^,o>e  ban- 

i>hed  by  -  .  proclaimed  him  sole  emperor, 

and  stigmatized  his  brother  Q  a  traitor, 

andanei:  ::e  commonwealth.     Theyal>«» 

terrih'ed  the  Donate  into  the  same  measnivs.  and 

/alia  was  invested  with  undivided  power. 


222  EMPIRE   OF  KOMK. 


Tlie  follies  of  Caracalls. 


A  man  who  could  thus  cause  the  death  of  his 
own  brother,  was  capable  <•!'  any  crime;  audit 
is  not,  therefore,  surprising  to  find  that  he 
should,  soon  alter,  kill  his  own  wife,  and  de- 
stroy all  those  who  had  dared  to  utter  a  word 
against  his  cruel  conduct.  Two  thousand  per- 
i  to  have  perished  on  account  of 
their  eXpTMsioB  <•:'  sympathy  3  brother. 

Having  very  properly  concluded  that  the 
people  hated  him,  lie  declared  that,  knowing 
how  to  secure  his  OW1  .  he  eared  not  for 

their  lo\v.      !  tfl  pun-based  at  an 

enormous  pri<-.-.  Tin-  Pnctorian  soldiers  could 
be  kepi  Bteft  his  interest  only  b_. 

haustin^  the   treasury,  and  by  conmiittiiiL 

of  unpardonable  rapa 

Tortured  by  a  ^uih;.  -nee,  and  unable 

main   in    a  city  where.  a<  he  -said,  he  be- 
held the  ariirry  forms  of  his  father  and  brother 
•    upbraid   him,  he   K-t'i    Home  about  a 
year  after  the  murder  of  Geta,  and  never  more 
returned.      1  Jut  "the  cities  where  lie  sojourned, 
tilled   with    niouniiii^.  on  account  of  his 
cruel  ;id  it  is  .  \  that   the  w: 

of  the  Nile  were  tinned  with  the  blood  of  the 
citizens  of  Alexandria,  ma-sacred  at  his  com- 
mand, by  his  inhuman  soldiers.  The  expense 
of  his  journeys,  and  of  his  residence  in  distant 


PlI.KTOKIAN     GUARDS. 


i^ies  between  the  officers  of  the  Pr»torian  guards. 

lands,  was  immense.  Magnificent  palatvs  and 
theatres  were  erected  f<>r  his  iooommodation  in 

.itirivnt   cities  through  which  he  p;t 
and    many   of  these  he  ordered  to  be  thrown 
down,  because  they  did  not  please  his 
Multitudes  of  people  were  ruined  by  the  enor- 
>r  the   purpose   of  defray- 

ing 1:  WBj   the    burden  of  whieh  wa.s 

felt,  iinh  through  the  empire. 

Ja  could  not  fail,  under  thesi-  eircum- 
stauce-,  to  make  hini>elf  the  subject  of  univer- 
sal hatred.  The  Pnvtoiian  soldiers,  however, 
upon  whom  he  showered  innumerable  fa 

My    t-»    Mi>tain    him;  but  a  jeal'-u-y, 

which  sprung   up  between  two  of  his  officers, 

:ed  in  freeing  the  world,  at  last,  from  this 

insupportable  T.    It  seems  that  Opilius 

^laerinus,  a  man  of  great  talents  and  dexterity, 
had,  on  account  of  the  increasing  favor  shown 
towards  him  by  the  emperor,  incurred  the 
hatred  of  Adventus,  another  officer  of  the  Pne- 
torian  bands.  Adventus,  hearing  in  Koine  that 
a  famous  astrologer  had  predicted  that  Macri- 
nus  and  his  son  would  receive  the  empire,  wrote 
a  letter,  in  which  he  related  the  prediction  to 
Caracalla. 

This  letter  was  dispatched  with  great  caution 
to  Caracalla  ;  but  the  messenger  with  whom  it 


224-  EMPIRE  OF  HOME. 

Conspiracy  against  Caractlla. 

was  intrusted,  happened  to  place  it  in  his  hands 
just  as  IK-  was  making  preparations  for  a  chariot 

Caracalla,  who  never  suffered  business 
to  interfere  with  liis   pleasures,  delivered  the 

which  he  had  just  re- 

<i,  t«>  .Macrinus  telling  him,  at   the  same 
.  t<>  read  them  all,  and  impart  to  him  the 
contents  on  some  future  occasion. 

Macrinus,   reading  the  letters  immediately, 

very  naturally,  surprised  and  alarmed  at 

what  appeared  to  him,  at  once,  to  he  a  cunning 

plot  devised  by   Adventus  to  accomplish  his 

ruin.     "Without,   h«-\\  'raying  the 

emotion,  lu-  put  them  a-ide,  telling  the  emperor 

that    tliey    contained    nothing    of    imj»«»ri; 

The  chariot  rare  went  on,  but,  in  the  mean  time, 

^larriniK  determined,  since   a   c..n>piracy  had 

;    formed  him.  to  crush  it  by  the 

•notion   of  the   emperor,  a-ainsf   whom  he 

had  not,  perhaps,  hitherio.  entertained  jmy  evil 

design. 

A>  soon,  1:  an  opportunity  occur- 

red, lie  made  known  his  design  to  one  ]\lar- 
tialis,  a  soldier  of  the  guard,  who,  b< 
had  been  refused  the  rank  of  centurion,  and  for 
;•  reasons,  entertained  a  great  hatred  for  the 
emperor.  Without  any  hesitation,  Martialis 
entered  into  the  conspiracy,  and  undertook  to 


PR^TORIAN  GUARDS. 


Macrinus  mode  emperor  by  the  Praetorians. 


destroy  Caracalla  at  the  first  favorable  moment. 
It   was  not    1  -re   this  moment  arrived. 

•alia  determining  to  make1  :i  pilgrimage  to 
the  temple  of  the  moon  at  Carrlm-,  set  out,  ac- 
companied by  a  long  train  of  cavalry.  While 
upon  the  road,  he  happened  to  move  on,  alone, 
in  advance  of  his  followers.  Martialis  observ- 
ing him  in  this  nnpr<>  >ndition,  spurred 

hi-  hoiv-e  forward  towards  him,  under   pretence 

him  some  as-  :  and  as 

as  he  had  reached  the  spot  where  the  omi 

•ling,  drew  a  dagger,  and  plunged  it 
into  his  heart.  The  hold  deed  could  not 
fail  to  aitracr  attention,  and  the  BaBASSio  was 
immediately  cut  to  pieces  by  the  soldiers  of  the 
guard. 

However  little  Macrinus  may  have,  hereto- 
fore, thought  of  obtaining  supreme  power,  the 
emperor  was  no  >.»oner  dead,  than  he  began  to 
hope  that  the  prophecy  concerning  bin 
would  prove  correct.  Conspicuous  as  the 
senior  prefect  of  the  Praetorian  bands,  he 
might  easily  fancy  himself  somewhat  entitled 
to  the  vacant  throne.  However  this  may 
have  been,  he  concealed  with  great  care  the 
part  which  be  had  taken  in  causing  the  death 
of  Caracalla,  and  undertook,  by  means  of  liberal 
promises,  to  secure  bis  election  among  the  sol- 


226  EMPIRE    OF   KOME. 

The  reception  of  his  regulations  by  the  soldiers. 

diers.  His  popularity,  it  is  true,  was  not 
great,  but  the  -rian  bands  liud  again  be- 

come so  corrupt  during  the  six  years'  reign  ot 
the  infamous  Caracalla,  that  they  were  ready 
to  sell  the  empire  to  any  one  who  would  pay 
them  a  generous  price. 

Tw.»  days,  then,  after  the  death  of  Caracalla, 
Macrinus  wa-  elected  nnperor  by  the  Pnvtorian 
bands,   and   hi*   name   .-cut   to  the   Seiiat* 
confirmation.      The  .1   to   be 

livered  I'min  |  ible  tyrant,  did  not  hesi- 

i"   aokn  ice   made  by  the 

soldiers    though    they   aftorv. .  mplained 

that  a  man  ofobecore  birth,  who  had  nev. 

ink  of  senator,  slmuld  ])e  so  sud- 
denly eh-vated  to  the  thr 

Macrinus.  tind:  •  inpire  much  embar- 

d    in    continence   of  the    prodiirality   «>f 

•alia,  undertook  a  reformation   in  the  dif- 

•nents  of  government,  which  was, 

indec'tl.  \  irable,   but   f->r  which  he  did 

not  ]  -ary  abilities  or  prudence. 

wholesome    reirulati-  -11  re- 

d  by  a  licentious  peo}»le.  and  the  severe 

discipline  which  he  attempted  to  introduce  into 

the  army,  resulted  only  in  making  him  an  ob- 

of  hatred  among  those  to  whom  alone  he 

could  look  for  protection. 


PR.ETORIAN  GUARDS. 

ogabalus  proclaimed  emperor. 

The  immense  army  assembled  by  his  pr 
:•  in  tli-  .    iMtl  which,  on  coming  to 

very  properly  disbanded, 

becai  ;y  incensed  at  the  new  regulations 

of  the  new  emperor,  ami  iinally  succeeded  in 

accomplishing  his  ruin.     ]\lany  <>t'  the  soldiers 

at   Kmesa,  in  I'ho-nieia,  were  in  the 

habit  of  resorting  to  the  temple  of  the  Sun, 

where  they  gazed  with  wonder  and  delight   at 

)t  officiating  there,  who,  they  tan- 

!>••  re  a  striking  resemblance  to  their  late 

sovereign,  Caracalla.  This  young  pried 

at  last,  a  subject  of  general  attention,  and  the 

temple  was  daily  thronged  with  troops,  cori< 

Id  him.  iidmother,  M  'or  of 

the  wife  of  the  '.  '»eror,  Severus,  and  a 

woman    of    great    wealth,    heard,    with 

f  the  regard  man :  v  the  lioman 

soldiery  for  her  grandson.  Hoping  to  make  it 
the  means  of  promoting  his  inteiv-ts.  she  af- 
firmed that  the  young  priest,  whose  n 
Bassianus,  was  the  natural  son  of  Caracalla. 
The  story  was  eagerly  believed  by  the  troops 
of  Emesa,  and  Bassianus  was  proclaimed  em- 
peror. 

Although  this  young  prince  assumed  the 
name  of  Antoninus,  he  is  generally  distin- 
guished in  history  by  that  of  Jleliogabalus,  be- 


228  EMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

His  disgusting  follies. 

cause  he  was  originally  a  priest  of  that  divinity. 
As  soon  as  lie  was  proclaimed  emperor  at 
Kmesa,  his  grandmother,  Massa,  by  means  of 
her  immense  wealth,  succeeded  in  enlisting  in 
his  cause  other  portions  of  the  army  stationed 
in  the  Ka-1.  When,  therefore,  Macrinus  heard 
that  a  claimant  to  the  throne  had  suddenly 
arisen,  Heliogabalufl  was,  already,  at  the  head 
of  a  powerful  force.  Macrinus  thought  it  neces- 
sary, at  first,  to  send  only  a  lew  legions,  under 
the  command  of  a  lieutenant,  to  oppose  the 
pretender;  hut  these  heing  promptly  defeated, 
he  re>"lved  to  go  him.-elf,  at  the  head  of  his  en- 
tin-  army.  The  h«»>iile  parties  met  on  the  con- 
fines of  Syria.  An  obstinate  battle  ensued,  in 
which  Macrinus  was  overthrown,  and  subse- 
quently slain,  after  a  short  reign  of  about  one 
year  and  two  months. 

The  Tnetorian  guards,  who  had  promptly 
decried  Macrinus  when  fortune  seemed  to  for- 
sake him,  united  with  the  rest  of  the  army  in 
supporting  the  pretensions  of  Ileliogabalus ; 
and  the  Senate,  consequently,  were  constrained 
to  receive  him  as  lawful  successor  to  the  throne, 
lie  was.  at  this  time,  but  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and.  though  so  young,  is  represented  by  histo- 
rians as  a  monster  of  sensuality.  During  the 
four  years  in  which  he  reigned,  it  is  said  that 


PRAETORIAN  GUARDS.  229 

A  horse  raised  to  the  consulship. 

he  married  four  wives,  all  of  whom  he  succes- 
sively divorced ;  and  then,  professing  to  be  a 
woman  himself,  married  one  of  his  own  officers. 
lie  made  his  grandmother  Msesa,  and  his 
mother  Soemias,  his  colleagues  on  the  throne ; 
and  he  appointed  a  Senate  of  women,  over  whom 
his  mother  presided,  and  by  whom  the  modes 
and  fashions  for  the  empire  were  prescribed. 

The  entire  reign  of  this  infatuated  boy  was 
filled  up  with  absurdities,  which  it  is  difficult 
to  see  how  men  possessed  of  any  intelligence 
could  for  a  moment  endure.  He  was,  never- 
theless, allowed  to  squander,  in  the  most  reek- 
manner,  the  public  treasures.  He  was 
always  dressed  in  cloth  of  gold  and  purple ;  his 
whole  palace  was  studded  with  the  most  costly 
jewels;  and  the  floors  of  his  apartments  were 
covered  with  gold  and  silver  dust.  To  gratify 
his  childish  whims,  he  was  sometimes  carried 
through  the  streets  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  ele- 
phants, at  other  times  by  mastiff  dogs,  and  fre- 
quently by  females.  On  a  certain  occasion  the 
whole  city  was  occupied,  at  his  command,  in 
collecting  spiders,  the  entire  weight  of  which, 
when  they  were  all  brought  together,  equalled 
ten  thousand  pounds. 

These  follies,  and  even  the  disgraceful  cere- 
mony of  raising  his  horse  to  the  honors  of  the 
20 


EMPIRE  OF  ROME. 


Heliogabalus  slain  by  the  Praetorians. 


consulship,  might  have  been  tolerated  for  a 
much  longer  time,  had  he  not  mingled  with 
them  cruelties  never  before  surpassed.  His 
grandmother,  perceiving  that  he  was  beginning 
to  make  himself  an  object  of  terror,  persuaded 
him  to  adopt  his  cousin  Alexander  as  his  suc- 
cessor, and  to  take  him,  at  once,  as  a  partner  in 
the  cares  of  government.  This  he  consented  to 
do,  but  finding,  afterwards,  tli at  Alexander  had, 
by  his  virtues,  acquired  the  affections  of  the 
people  and  the  army,  he  determined  to  rule 
alone.  But  the  Praetorian  guard-  learning  his 
intentions,  threatened  to  kill  him,  and 
compelled  him  to  place  Alexander  under  their 

Alarmed,  now,  for  his  own  safety,  he  began 
means  to  protect  himself;  and  regarding 
the  Senate  afl  his  most  formidable  fin-ink'-,  lie 
hani-hed  them  all  from  the  city.  Then  he  en- 
deavored to  poison  Alexander;  and  believing, 
perhaps,  that  h".had  succeeded,  spread  a  report 
throughout  the  city  that  he  was  dead  ;  but  per- 
':ig  that  the  soldiers  were  about  to  mutiny, 
he  to.»k  Alexander  in  his  chariot  to  the  camp. 
Hero  the  soldiers  fell  upon  Heliogabalus  and 
his  attendants,  and  puisuing  him  back  to  the 
palace,  succeeded,  at  last,  in  killing  him. 

Alexander,   the   favorite  of  the  Praetorian 


PRAETORIAN  GUARDS.  231 

Alexander  made  emperor. 

guards,  was  immediately  elevated  by  them  to 

the  empire,  and  the  Senate,  with  their  usual 

adulation,  offered  to  confer  new  titles  upon  him, 

which,  with  becoming  modesty,  he  declined. 

Indeed,  Alexander,  adopting  the  noble  model 

of  Trajan  and  the  Antonines,  proved  to  be  a 

most   excellent   monarch.     To  the  most  rigid 

•e  he  added  the  greatest  humanity.     His 

accomplishments,  beside-,  weiv  equal  to  hi-  vir- 

:  lie  was  an  excellent  mathematician,  geo- 

;eian,  and  musician;  he   was  skilful,  also, 

in  painting  and  sculpture,  and  few,  of  his  time, 

could  equal  him  in  poetry. 

Although  only  seventeen  years  of  age  when 
he  ascended  the  throne,  he  began  with  great 
prudence  and  wisdom  to  correct  the  vices  and 
irregularities  which  had  flourished  with  but  lit- 
tle check  during  the  preceding  forty  years.  The 
unjust  taxes  imposed  by  Caracalla  upon  the 
provinces,  were  removed.  The  excessive  luxury 
of  the  people  was,  by  degrees,  restrained,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  wholesome  amusements  were 
liberally  furnished  for  the  populace.  The  dig- 
nity and  authority  of  the  Senate  were  restored ; 
and  every  one  began  to  breathe  freely,  and  to 
feel  that  life  and  property  were  safe. 

The  task  of  rectifying  the  abuses  in  civil  af- 
fairs was  comparatively  easy,  and  was  repaid 


232  KM  PIKE   OF  HOME. 

regulations 

by  the  thanks  and  prai-es  of  his  subjects;  but 
the  reformation  <.f  the  army  was  a  far  more 
clillicult  enterprise,  and,  although  he  had  the 
courage  and  prudence  necessary  to  undertake 
it,  he  was  destined  to  become  a  martyr  to  the 
.  "Fur  in 'in  exercising  any  severity  in 
this  difficult  work,  he  began,  and  conducted 
it  by  the  most  gentle  means.  Instead,  for  in- 
stance, of  compelling  the  soldiers  in  their 
marrhc<  to  curry.  a>  they  had  been  uccu-tomed, 
iteen  duy>  pn»vi>i«in  upon  tlieir  liacks,  lie 
cau-eo!  ample  m  he  i'ormed  along 

the  public  roads,  and  ninnemu-  trains  of  mules 
and  camels  were  employed   to   relieve  them  of 
the  liurdeii.     He  did  not  diminish  their  p;, 
oblige  them  to  be  less  prodigal  of  their  money, 
but  simply  attempted  to  check  their  intemper- 
ance, and  to  direct  their  luxury  to  objec 
utility,  such  us  splendid  armor,  fine  horses,  and 
shields  enriched  with  gold  and  silver. 

The  Pni'tnriim  guards  entertained,  indeed, 
f<T  Alexander,  a  great  all'ection.  They  looked 
upon  him  as  a  protege  whom  they  had  snatched 
from  the  hands  of  a  tyrant,  and  placed  upon 
his  throne  ;  and  Alexander  was  not  ungrateful 
to  them  for  the  kind  feeling  which  thev  had 
manifested  towards  him.  He  shared  their  fa- 
tigues and  dangers,  visited,  in  person,  their  sick 


PR.F.TORTAX    Q-U-A  BDS. 

Military  expedition  of  Alexander. 


and  wounded,  and,  in  the  camp, 
himself  with  their  food  and  lodging.  But  cor- 
ruption had  taken  too  strong  a  hold  upon  the 
army  to  be  removed,  even  by  the  courageous 
and  indefatigable  Alexander.  The  Pnetorians 
became  irritated  at  the  reforms  which  lie  un- 
dertook, but  unwilling  at  first  to  make  him  the 
object  of  their  anger,  they  accused  their  prae- 
ripian,  of  being  the  author  of  their  fan- 
cied grievances,  and,  by  threatening  to  burn  the 
caused  him  to  be  delivered  into  their 
hands,  and  afterwards  slain.  The  celeb: 
historian,  Dion  Cassius,  a  commander  of  the 
Punnonian  legions,  lost  his  lii'e  under  somewhat 
similar  circumstances. 

Alexander  had  been  ten  years  upon  the 
throne  when  ho  undertook  his  first  military  ex- 
pedition, which  v  list  the  Parthians  and 

Persians,  and  such  was  the  regularity  which  he 
had,  by  this  time,  gradually  introduced  into 
the  army,  that  the  days  of  Roman  glory  seemed 
to  have  returned.  His  enemies  were  defeated 
in  a  most  decisive  manner.  The  cities  of  Ctesi- 
phon  and  Babylon  were  retaken,  and  the  Ro- 
man empire  restored  to  its  former  limits. 

A  Thracian  peasant,  named  Maximin,  who, 
by  means  of  his  great  physical  strength  and 
cunning,  had  risen  to  a  distinguished  rank  in 


234  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

Conspiracy  of  Maxirnin. 

the  army,  perceiving  that  Alexander  had  in- 
curred the  displeasure  of  his  soldiers  on  account 
of  his  strict  discipline,  conceived  the  idea  of 
turning  this  displeasure  to  his  own  account. 
!!<•  employed  his  creatures,  accordingly,  to  go 
about  from  legion  to  legion,  to  increase  the 
discontent ;  and  in  a  short  time  the  sub- 
dued murmurs  of  the  troops  broke  out  into 
mutinous  clamors.  They  accused  themselves 
of  weakness  and  stupidity,  for  having  so  long 
submitted  to  an  eileminate  Syrian,  instead  of 
an  experienced  general,  who  could  win  for 
thi-m  «rl<»ry  and  riches. 

This  \va^  during  the  thirteenth  year  of  the 
<>f  Alexander,  and  lie  was,  at  this  time, 
at.  the  head  of  a  powerful  army,  with  which  he 
had  marched  to  the  hanks  of  the  Rhine,  for  the 
purpose  of  opposing  the  barbarians  of  Ger- 
many, who  began  to  pour  down  in  immense 
swarms  upon  the  more  southern  portions  of  the 
empire.  The  task  of  subduing  them  had  not 
teen  achieved,  when,  one  da}7,  as  it  is  said. 
a  portion  of  the  army,  having  invested  ]Uax- 
imin  with  the  insignia  of  royalty,  brought  him 
into  the  camp,  and  proclaimed  him  emperor. 
Alexander,  amazed  at  the  proceeding,  and 
foreseeing  his  fate,  retired  into  his  tent  to 
await  the  result.  Followed,  soon  after,  by  a 


PRAETORIAN  GUAKS 

Death  of  Aleian 

trilmne  and  ^-evenil  centurions,  lie  was  shame- 
fully put  to  death,  in  the  twenty-ninth  year 
of  his  age. 

The  death  of  Alexander  was  very  much  la- 
mented by  the  Christians  throughout  the  em- 
pire. Towards  them  he  had  always  exercised 
tin-  greatest  clemency.  The  famous  Origen  is 
said  to  have  instructed  him  in  the  doctrines 
of  Christianity.  Upon  a  certain  occasion,  a 
dispute,  concerning  a  piece  of  ground,  having 
occurred  between  a  company  of  cooks,  who  de- 
sired to  secure  it  for  purposes  of  feasting,  and 
a  number  of  Christians,  who  had  occupied  it 
f«>r  worship,  the  matter  was  referred  to  Alex- 
ander, who  decided  it  in  these  words:  "It  is 
r  that  God  be  worshipped  there,  in  any 
manner,  than  that  the  place  should  be  put  to 
•  >f  drunkenness  and  debauchery." 


DECLINE  OF  THE  EMPIRE, 

FROM  235  TO   306   A.  D. 


CHARACTER  of  Maximin — Conspiracy — Elevation  of  Gor- 

dianus — Contest  between  Maximin  and  Gordianus — Maxi- 

min's     success — Other     emperors    chosen— Maximin's    as- 

ition — New  emperors — The  secular  -aim .->— -lament- 

;ilil«-  condition  of  the  Empire— IViseeutiun  of  tin;  i'hri>tians 
::s— other   enemies   <>f  tin-   Empire — Gallus  and 
-•Kiiiiliaini.N— Val«:ri.iu— A  K<>m;in  emperor  i-uslavnl — King 
Sapor  and  Vain  ian- <  Jalliciius— The  Thirty  Tyrants— Clau- 
ilis    military    n]M-rati«»ns — Aurdian— His    f\ii»-dition 
against  Hisdcatli    -An  int.-rn  u'nmii--Tacitus  made 

finprror—  Flnriaijusainl  Tn'txis— FurtlK-r  usnri>ations  of  the 
poldi«-rs — 1  >i<H-lr>ian — The  Empire  divided — Persecution  of 
the  Christians — Dioclesian  and  Maximiau  rr>ii;ii  their  power 
— Constantine. 


A  IW1IAN  EMPEROR  ENSLAVED. 


IX. 

DECLINE  OF  THE  EMPIRE. 


HOME  now  found  itself  under  the  dominion 
of  a  despot  whose  court  was  a  military  camp, 
located,  sometimes,  upon  the  banks  ofthe Rhine, 
and,  sometimes,  on  those  of  the  Danube.  ]\Ia\i- 
min,  the  first  of  all  the  empen>rs  wlmso  elec- 
tion the  Senate  refused  to  confirm,  either  dis- 
dained or  feared  to  take  up  his  residence  in  the 
imperial  city. 

It  has  already  been  said  that  Maximin  was  a 
Thracian  peasant,  who,  on  account  of  his  re- 
markable  appearance,  physical  strength,  and 
cunning,  liad  risen  from  a  common  soldier  to 
the  highest  station  in  the  army.  Although  a 
courageous  soldier,  and  a  skilful  general,  the 
proud  senators  could  not  forget  that  he  had  first 
attracted  public  notice  as  a  wrestler  and  a  box- 
er, that  his  greatness  was  originally  due  to  his 
enormous  stature,  which  is  said  to  have  exceed- 
21 


242  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 


Character  of  Maxlmin. 


ed  eight  feet,  and  to  his  wonderful  strength, 
reported  to  have  surpassed  that  of  two  oxen. 
These  tilings  they  carried  in  remembrance; 
and  when,  therefore,  they  heard  that  this  igno- 
rant boor,  whom  they  had  often  seen  contend- 
ing with  slaves  in  the  amphitheatre,  had  been 
elevated  t«i  the  throne,  they  determined  to  resist 
the  choice  of  the  Praetorian  bands.  He,  on 
the  other  hand,  while  d«»ing  every  thing  to  con- 
cval  ilit-  ob-curity  of  his  origin,  even  to  the 
deMruction  <>f  his  kindred,  would  nut  allow  any 
man  of  noble  birth,  or  acCOmpliflhmenJ 
abilii  near  hi-  pen 

The  masses  of  the  people  did  not,  at   iii-st, 
sillier    from     his    excessive    cruelty.       It 
limited  t«»  the   nobles   and    the    wealthy,  whom 
he  frequently  can-ed  to  be  to  death  with 

clubs,  or  to  b<  d  to  the  jaws  «.f  ravei 

beasts  ;   but,  finally,  his  avarice  and  the  rapacity 

of   his   soldiers,  prompted    him   to  acts   which 

made   the    whole  empire  groan.     Not    content 

with   confiscating   the  entire  wealth   of  cities, 

ripped  the  temples  of  their  precious  olfer- 

.  and  melted  down,  and  coined  into  m.»nev, 

..-old  and  silver  statues  of  the  emperors,  the 

:id  the  gods. 

Notwithstanding  this  inhuman  treatment  of 
his  subjects,  he  did  not  abandon  or  delay  the 


1)  !.  .     Of     TH  1-      K  M  1'  IKK.         243 

Conspiracy— Elevation  of  Gordianus. 

military  op,.-rati«'iis  undertaken  by  his  prede- 
cessor  against  tlie  enemies  of  Rome.  He  over- 
threw the  Germans  in  several  battles,  and  laid 
waste  their  land  with  lire  and  >w«>rd,  fur  l'«.ur 
hundred  miles  around  him.  And  wherever  the 
conflict  with  the  enemy  ra-vd  most  fiercely, 
there,  Install  form  was  always  conspicuous,  and 
his  powerful  arm  ever  most  active.  But,  with 
all  this,  Ju«  was  unable  to  win  either  i 
Tion  or  respect  of  those  around  him;  and,  al- 
though his  troops  were  kept  under  control, 
numerous  conspiracies  were  formed  against  his 
life.  AVhile  none  of  these  were  successful,  an 
event  in  Africa  reMilted  in  the  appointment  of 
another  emperor,  and  gave  the  Senate  courage 
to  attack  this  hearth ••  or. 

The  enormous  tim-s  imposed  upon  the  people 
of  that  country   by   Maximin,   drove  them,  at 
nee.  and  a  conspiracy  was  formed, 
airainst  the  «»liicei*s  of  Maximin,  which  ended  in 
their  coinph •:  icti"ii.      The  standard  ..f 

rebellion  ;    the   Roman    emperor  was 

erected;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  province 
leathering  around  it,  seized  upon  Gordianus, 
their  proconsul,  an  excellent  old  man,  of  a 
wealthy  and  most  illustrious  Roman  family, 
and  compelled  him  to  assume  the  insignia  of 
royalty.  He  begged  them,  with  tears  in  his 


•J  1  1  PIBS    OF   BO  v 

Mnvimin  and  Gordianus. 

'.\\i   die   in   peace;  but  they  would 
imt    li>ten   to  liis  en:  -ml   lie  proi: 

finally,  b  1he  title  of  emperor,  provided 

the  Senate  confirmed  their  choice. 

The  Senate  listened  with  anxiety  to  the  re- 
port- which  were  hruiiglit  to  them  fr«»m  Africa; 
but  expertinir,  in  any  event,  that  they  would 
BOOH  feel  the  effects  of  tli.  Maximin, 

and    knowing    well    the    worth    of    donlianus, 
they  ratilied  his  election,  and,  with  him,  made 
his  s<>n,  al-o.  emperor.      I  In!    before  tJie-e   pm- 
iings  were   made   public,  the   S 
:ied    trn>ty    nu-n    t<>    the    I'ra-tnrian    camp, 
wlm,  >layinir  the  cnu-l   agents  statioiu-d   tin-re 
by    Maximin,     ran,     afterwards,    through     the 

aiminir  to  the  people  and  tl 
BWI  of  the  joyful  revolution. 
Nothing  was  I  eft  undmir  -nple 

thfl   bloody  tyrant.     JIU   statn.-s   were, 
thrown  do\\  n,  \\ .  ,und  ; 

arm-  ([nartt-i-. 

soldiers  enlisted  t«»  ir-' f.»rtli  t<>  attack  him  in  his 
imperial  camp.  The  spirit  •  Lion  per- 

vadr«l  the  whole  of  Italy,  and  in  a  >hort  time 
a  powerful  army,  under  the  direction  of  skilful 
lead.  ready  to  combat  in  the  cai, 

the  Senate  and  the  people. 
Tlu  ucre  >ca: 


DECLINE  OF  THK    EMPIRE. 

in's  success — Other  omperors  choson. 

when    new-    was    brought   to    U«>me    tliat    an 
army,  commanded   by  one  of  Maxim! 
orals,   had   marched    nirain-t    tin-  (iordiai 
Cart;  their    !  <>ops, 

had   >lain   the   younger  of   tlic   empc: 

•or  a  reign  of  only  t! 
"ave.  through  gri 
Eo:  ;  with  lamentation  l»y  thi- 

4er.    Tlie  Senate  asscniLh-d,  un- 
11  what  to  do;  but  as  such  1>  »»  sel- 

dom without  SOUK-  (liivctini:  hand,  a  - 
noble  senator  at  K-n^tli  an- 
C'>nnr  virtues  of  the  Gord'  d  de- 

plnri1  loss,  closed  his  ^]>rcch  l.y  >a; 

"We  have  lost  two  excclh-nt  prince-,  hut,  un- 
less w  Op6fl  <>f  the  repub- 
lic have  notp*  Let  IN  ehoose 
two  emperors.  My  vote  is  in  favor  of  Maxim  us 
and  JJalbinus."  These  i  '.\  kno\vn  f..r 
their  courage  and  virtue, 

without  one  dissenting  voice,  and  the  temple  of 
>rd,  where  tl  o  was  assembled,  ini- 

me(liately  resounded  with  "Long  life  and  vic- 
tory to  the  emperors  Maximus  and  Balhin 
There  was,  however,  a  large  number  of  dis- 
•nted  people  in  the  city,  who  insisted  upon 
adding  another  emperor   to  the  two  already 
and,   in   order   to   quiet   the    clamor 


2-iG  KM  PI  RE   D  KB. 

.imin. 

which  they  made.  ;-on  of  the  elder  Gor- 

diaii,  only  thirteen  years  of  age,  was  associated 
with  Maximus  an«l  iJalbinus. 

AVhen  the  news  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
1  t<>  the  camp  of  Maxiniin,  lie 
behaved  like  a  furious  wild  beast,  striking  his 
lu-ad  violent;  alls  of  his  apart- 

ment, and  threatening  the  life  of  all  who  ven- 
tured to  approach  him.  Jlis  fury,  at  length, 
subsiding,  he  pa— ed  across  the  Alps,  for  the 
pnrpoM-  of  laying  waste  the  fertile  plains  of 
Italv.  .P»ut  tin-  Senate  had,  with  the  utmo-r 
proinpiih— .  fortified  all  the  towns,  and  pL 

B  to  his  progress  which  they  could 

Colltl 

The  unexpected  oppoMii,.n  which  he  thus  en- 
countered, threw  the  huge  barbarian  into  such 
an  ungovernable  rage,  that  he  fell  upon  his  «.wii 
ollicers,  and  actually  caused  a  number  of  ; 
to   be    put   to   death.     In    the  lime   the 

armies  of  th>  .  unand  of 

skilt'i.  advancing  to  meet  him. 

A  terrible  and  deceive  conllict  seemed  inevita- 
ble, when  the  outrageous  conduct  of  Maximin 
caused  a  mutiny  among  his  troops,  which  a 
the  lives  of  many  thou-and<.     The  suldie;  - 
termined  upon   the    tyrant's   death;    but   such 
wa>  his  ama/.ing  strength,  that  no  one  dared  to 


DK  H  M  r  i  RE.       iM , 

His  assassination — Another  enii»r.>r  :  i'rajtorians. 

encounter  him.    His  govds,  however,  having 

been  bribed,  a  number  of  well-armed  men  en- 
tered  his  tent  at  no«.u,  when  h 
slew  both  him  and  his  sun,  whom  he  had  made 
a  partner  in  the  empire.  Their  heads  were 
carried  abnut  the  camp  upon  the  points  of 
spears;  their  bodi  tin-own  out  to  be  de- 

voured by  dogs,  and   then   their  armies  swore 
allegiance  to  and  to  the  emperors, 

Maximus  and  iJalbinus. 

The  united  armies  of  the  murdered  MaxJmin 
and   <•!'  tlie   Sena'  tied  to  Koine,   which 

I    with   the  usual    ceivnmnits  of  a 
triumph.     For   some   time  the   two   emperors 
continued  to  discharge  their  duties  without  op- 
.   but,  at  length,  the  Pnetorian  soldiers 
ninir  jeal'iu-  [X)\ver  of  the  Se; 

and  di'<irous  of  si-rin^  upon  the  tin-one  a  mon- 
arch of  their  own  selection,  ivs-.lved  uj...- 
scilinir,  once  more,  ilu-ir  >upremacy.  Taking 
advantage,  accordingly,  of  the  absence  of  tlie 
emperors'  guards,  who  were  all  permitted  to 
attend  the  Capitoline  games,  they  marclu-d  from 
their  quarters,  in  a  numerous  body,  to  the 
palace.  Surrounding  it.  they  penetrated  to  the 
imperial  apartments,  and  seizing  both  the  em- 
perors, dragged  them  to  the  camp  and  slew 
them.  Immediately  afterwards,  proclaiming 


248  K  M  l'I  RE    OF    JioM  K. 

W«rks  of  the  new  emperor. 

Gordian  sole  successor  to  the  throne,  they  set- 
tled down.  Apparently  satisfied,  in  their  camp. 
This  younir  prince  seems  to  have  inherited 
the  virtues  of  his   grandfather,  who   died   in 
Africa.      Jlis   Ji:  .    upon    coining    into 

•  reconcile  the  soldiers 

and  the  citizen^  to  each  other;  and.  indeed,  for 

the  iirst  three  or  four  years  of  his  roiim,  the 

ire  enjoyed  comparative   peace.      For  the 

•wisdom  and    energy   which    lie    displayed,   lie 

B,  vi-ry  inncli   indebted   to  h'- 
ccllcnt    instructor.  J\Ii.-ith;en<.   who-c  daughter 
he  married,  and  to  whom   he  seemed  alwa 
look  for  aid  and  con; 

Dimmr  the  tilth  rei_irn.  the  eni]>iro 

:'uri«ni^ly  inva«l«-d    l.\  1',-r- 

d  pillaired   Syria   and 

the  adjacent  provinces.    Th«  Gk)tl   . 

down  from  tlie  n«»rth,  attempting  to  tix  their 
roidence  in  the  kingdom  of  Thrace.  Gordian 
drove  them  hack  to  their  own  countries,  and 
likewise  defeated  the  Persians,  with  a  dread- 
ful slaughter.  But  Misitlueiis,  his  counsellor, 
having  lu-en  poil  ,.  l>y 

1'liilip,  an  Aral),  who  finally  succeeded  to  the 
tin-one,  the  affairs,  of  the  army  were  not  so  ahly 
managed,  and  murmurs  be^an  to  be  heard 
his  troops.  Philip,  in  the  mean  time, 


DEC  I.  I  N  K     OF     TH  K      K  M  PI  UK. 
The  emperor  I'hilip— The  Secular  games. 

contrived  :iiideiice,  and,  eveiitu- 

ally,  acquired  a  degree  of  power  fully  equal  to 
-vn.     But  not  contented  with  this,  the  am- 
bitions man   caused   his  benefactor  to  be  slain, 
and  then  securing  tin  :'  the  soldiers, 

;ded  the  thr> 

The  Senate  making  no  opposition  to  this  pro- 
Philip    conclml  with   the 
.  and  marched  his  army  1  ;»me. 
"While  upon  !                .                  '1  hi>  nati\e  coun- 
try of  Arabia,  wi.                                             < -ailed 
Phili- 

Tin  :dth  year  during  which  the  city 

had   now  A.  1 ).  -J  i  i  •  •"iiiplcted    in 

the  reign  of  this   emperor.      This  was  an  occa- 
sinu,    therefore,    i  the    SdC 

games,  the  origin  of  which  is  not  jnv'- 
known,  though  they  were  observed,  with  _ 
solemnity,  at  in  of  about  a  hundred 

Slaves    and    >trangers    were    excluded 
from  all  participation  in  them.    They  continued 
three  days  and  three  nights,  during  which  tinio 
sacrifices,  music,  and   dancing,  were   kept  up 
-antly  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber.     Upon 
the  present  occasion,  these  games  were  cele- 
d   with  greater  splendor  than   had  been 
given  to  them  by  Augustus,  or  any  succeeding 
emperor ;  and  thus  it  was  that  Philip  managed, 


2r»0  KM  PI  RE   OF    HOME. 

Lamentable  condition  of  the  empire — Another  emperor  slain. 

on  liis  return  to  Home,  to  divert  the  attention 
of  the  people  from  the  fact  that  he  was  no  bet- 
ter than  a  usurper  and  a  murderer. 

The  history  of  this  period,  though  exceeding- 
ly imperfect,  exhibits  a  state  of  affairs  lament- 
able enough  for  the  Roman  empire.  Immense 
as  that  empire  was,  and  overspread,  too,  by  its 
own  innumerable  armies,  it  was  every  day  be- 
coming an  easier  prey  to  barbarous  inv;; 
Its  own  soldiers,  habituated  to  the  business  of 
making  and  unmaking  emperor-,  were  ijuarrel- 
ling  among  themselves  for  power,  and  ready  to 
tear  the  empire  into  pieces,  in  order 
their  individual  wanfe.  Six  emperors  had  been 
cut  oil' by  the  sword  during  the  six  months  that 
ded  the  reign  of  Gordian.  Gordian  had 
now,  also,  shared  their  fate,  and  flu-re  were 
i-haps,  of  the  generals  of  Philip 
who  did  not  feel  a  disposition  to  imitate  th 
ample,  of  their  ambitious  master. 

I  hiring  the  year  following  the  Secular  games, 
a    rebellion   broke   out    among    the  legions  of 

O 

!Mo->ia,  where  a  subaltern  officer,  named  Mari- 
nus,  revolted,  and  caused  himself  to  be  pro- 
claimed emperor.  This  affair  gave  Philip 
much  alarm;  but  he  was  soon  relieved  by  the 
intelligence  that  Marinus  had  been  promptly 
murdered  by  the  soldiers  who  had  sought  to 


DECLINE  OF  THE  EMPIRE.      251 


Another  chosen. 


elevate  him.  Nevertheless,  Philip  deeming  ir 
necessary  to  send  to  Mresia  some  one  who  was 
able  to  restore  peace  and  discipline  an 
these  rebellious  legions,  selected  for  this  pur- 
pose an  intrepid  senator,  named  Decius.  Scarce- 
ly had  Dee-ins  reached  the  army,  and  assumed 
the  command,  than  lie  was  compelled  to  be- 
eoine  one  of  their  accomplices.  They  ^ave 
him  the  choice  of  the  title  of  emperor  or  death. 
Taking  the  former,  and  at  the  same  lime  noti- 
fying Philip  that  he  had  done  so  in  order  to 
to  him  the  empire,  he  marched  the 
army  towards  the  confines  of  Italy.  But  Philip, 
distrusting  his  profe^-inns  collected  all  the 
e  that  he  could,  and  went  out  to  meet  him. 
These  forces,  however,  had  proceeded  no  far- 
ther than  Verona,  when  they  revolted  in  favor 
of  Decius,  and  slew  the  emperor,  as  he  justly 

ved. 

Whether  Decius  would  have  resigned  to 
Philip  the  title  conferred  upon  him  by  the  army, 
it  i-  impossible  to  tell;  it  is  certain,  however, 
that  as  so.  .11  as  his  election  to  the  throne  had 
been  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  he  formed  a 
plan  of  government,  which,  if  he  had  been  per- 
mitted to  carry  it  out,  might  have  arrested,  some- 
what, the  rapid  decline  the  empire  was  now 
evidently  experiencing.  But  the  obstinate  dis- 


252  IPIRE  OF  ROME. 

Persecution  of  the  Christians— The  Goths. 

putes  between  the  pagans  and  Christians  inter- 
fered so  much  with  the  policy  which  he  had 
adopted,  that  lie  felt  constrained  to  check  them 
by  permitting  a  violent  persecution  of  the  latter. 
The  deatli  of  many  thousands  of  these  unhappy 
beings  did  not,  however,  serve  in  the  least  the 
intere>ts  of  Koine.  This  persecution  was  im- 
mediately succeeded  by  a  terrible  invasion  of 
•  oths,  a  nation  that,  eventually,  overturned 
Ionian  power,  sacked  the  imperial  city, 
and  brought  all  Italy  under  their  dominion. 

Deciufl  waa  obliged,  thc:vfore,  to  abandnn 

the  ta-k  of  restoring  the  ancient  manners  and 
the    maje.My    of  the  laws,    in  order  to   p: 
the   empire   against   the   furious  ravages  of  the 
barbarians.      Re  collected,  immedi  pow- 

erful army,  and,  marching  out  again>t  them, 
slew  thirty  thousand  in  a  .-ingle  battle.  But 
pursuing  those  who  survived,  with  a  deter- 
mination to  drive  them  forever  from  the  em- 
.  he  found  himself  suddenly  plunged  into 
a  deep  morass,  where  the  enemy  having  the 
advantage,  he  was  slain,  and  his  whole  army 
cut  to  pi. 

The  legions,  humbled  by  tliis  terrible  defeat, 
made  no  objections  to  the  decreeof  the  Senate, 
which  gave  the  empire  to  Hostilianus,  the 
young  son  of  Decius,  while,  at  the  same  time, 


DECLINE   OF  THE   EMPIRE. 

Their  treachery — Other  enemies  of  the  empire. 

it  associated  with  him  a  prominent  general, 
named  Gallus.  The  whole  guidance  of  affairs 
was  left  in  the  hands  of  Gallus,  who,  at  once, 
concluded  a  shameful  treaty  with  the  barba- 
rians, lie  agreed,  not  only  to  leave  in  their 
possession  all  the  plunder  which  they  had 
taken  during  their  invasions,  but  even  suffered 
them  to  retain  their  prisoners,  many  of  wlmm 
were  i  of  great  worth  and  distinction. 

:iis.  lu»  promised  to  pay  them,  annually, 
a  large  sum  of  money  on  condition  that  they 
would  make  no  more  incursions  into  the  Ro- 
man territory. 

The  condition  of  the  empire  was  now  de- 
plorable indeed.  AVhile  Gallus  returned  to 
Koine  to  abandon  himself  to  every  species  of 
plca.Mire,  the  G.uhs  with  whom  he  had  lately 
made  so  shameful  a  peace,  renewed  their  terri- 
ble invasions,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  Per- 
nans  and  Scythians  committed  the  most  dread- 
ful ravages  in  Mesopotamia  and  Syria.  In  ad- 
dition to  this,  a  violent  persecution  was  carried 
on  against  the  Christians ;  and,  to  crown  the 
whole,  a  horrible  pestilence  broke  out  in  every 
portion  of  the  empire.  Hostilianus,  the  asso- 
ciate upon  the  throne,  died  in  the  midst  of  it, 
but  not  without  suspicion  that  his  death  had 
been  brought  about  through  the  instrumentality 
22 


KMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

Guilus  and  yEmilianus. 

of  Gallus.  Then  it  was  that  Junilianns,  one  of 
his  generals,  Imping  to  relieve  his  country  from 
some  of  tin*  mi.-fortune-  that  had  beftillen  it, 
collected  tin-  seatteivd  f»rce>  of  the  empire,  and 
boldly  attacking  its  barbarous  enemies,  c: 
them  far  beyond  it-  oonfil 

The  troops  of  ./Kmilianus,  gratified  by  the  lib- 
eral share  which  he  granted  them  of  the  plunder 
of  their  foes,  proclaimed  him  emperor  upon  the 
battle  iield.  lint  before  he  and  his  victorious 
army  had  returned  to  l^me,  GalliH.  inforni'-d 
of  hi-  approach,  r«.u-ed  from  his  intoxicating 
plea-  L  gathering  t«»jrether  a  po\vrrfnl 

:it  out  to  meet  him.  The  ho-tile  armies 
met  in  Mu-ia.  A  dreadful  battle  immediately 
en>ued.  J-jnilianu-  MM  vii-t.»rin;  .-allus 

m«»-i   shameful  reiirn  of  only 
two  years  and  fniir  mi»n: 

Jiut   the   reign  of  ^Emilianus  was  de-tiia d  to 

imri  indeed.     When  (iallus  lir-t  1. 
of  liis  approach   towards    K-.me,  he-  sent   Vale- 
rian, one  of  liU  mo-t   tnu 

the  Unions  of  Gaul  and  Germany  to  his  aid. 
Valerian  did  not  briiiLT  them  soon  enough  to 
BftfQ  his  master;  but  hearing  that  Gallus  had 
>lain  he  determined  to  revenge  him,  and 
accordingly  inarched  upon  yKinilianus  with 
such  an  overwhelming  force,  that  the  terrified 


DECLINE   OF   THE   EMPIRE.     255 

Character  of  Vnlerian. 

soldiers  of  this  general  slew  their  leader,  and 
submitted  without  resistance  to  Valerian. 

This  general,  well  known  through  the  empire, 
for  his  many  virtues,  his  wisdom  and  undaunted 
coura.  .  ated  to  the  throne  by  general 

acclamation.  His  son,  Gallienus,  was  also  de- 
claivd  his  successor,  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  forces  necessarily  maintained  in  (iaul,  in 
order  to  •  that  country  from  the  inva- 

MMIIS  with  which  it  was  constantly  threatened 
by  the  people  of  Lower  Germany. 

Although  mure  than  >i.\  !  of  age,  Va- 

lerian commenced  the  work  of  reforming  the 
State,  with  all  tin-  energy  that  had  charadrr- 
i/A-<l  him  as  a  soldier  an<l  a  leader  in  the  armies 
of  the  empire;  and  so  great  was  the  re- 
in which  he  was  held,  and  so  sensible,  too,  had 
the  people  now  become  of  the  importance  of 
some  re  volution  in  their  manners,  that  they  sub- 
mitted with  comparative  cheerfulness  to  his 
direction-. 

.P»ut  it  was  now  too  late  to  save  the  em 
pire.  Luxury  and  misrule  had  done  their 
work ;  and,  in  the  person  of  Valerian,  Rome 
\va-  -liortly  to  suffer  an  indignity  which  would, 
ere  long,  be  visited  upon  herself.  All  the  sur- 
rounding nations,  like  birds  of  prey,  seemed  to 
be  hovering  around  her.  Each  successive 


256  EMPIRE   OF  EOME. 

A  Roman  emperor  enslaved. 

assault  which  they  made  was  more  daring  and 
more  destructive.  They  came,  too,  in  such  im- 
mense numbers,  and  from  so  many  different 
directions,  that  the  empire  seemed  to  be  upon 
the  brink  of  ruin.  Valerian,  consequently,  find- 
ing it  impossible  to  devote  himself  any  longer 
to  tin-  labor  of  reforming  the  State,  put  on  his 
arm-  and  hastened  forth  to  repel  the  invaders  of 
his  eountry. 

Intruding  to  his  numerous  generals  the  de- 
of  the  Danube  and  the  Khine,  he  placed 
hiiiir-ell'  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army,  with 
the  design  of  conquering  Sapor,  king  of  Persia, 
who.-e  operations  in  the  East  were  threatening 
tin1  greate.-t  injury  to  the  empire.  ra»ing  the 
river  Euphrates,  he  was  deceived  by  tin-  repre- 
sentations of  his  IVa-torian  pnei'ret,  and  impru- 
deiitly  marched  i<  .  ,e  tbund  him- 

self and  hi>  army  in  a  ]>o>iti«»n  nn favorable  for 
•intering  the  JYrMau  monarch.  In  vain 
did  he  endeavor  to  cut  his  way  through  the  in- 
numerable hosts  that  surrounded  him.  King 
Sap<>r  not  only  reduced  his  army  to  submi 
but  made  the  .Roman  emperor  a  captive. 

To  humiliate,  a-  much  as  possible-,  the  Eo- 
jnan  empire,  he  compelled  its  armies,  now 
within  his  power,  to  select,  as  emperor,  a  vile 
fugitive  of  Antioch,  named  Cyriades;  then, 


DECLINE   OF  THE   EMPIRE.     257 

King  Sapor  and  Valerian. 

causing  the  aged  emperor,  Yalerian,  to  be 
dressed  in  his  imperial  robes  and  loaded  with 
chains,  obliged  him  to  wait  about  his  person 
like  the  most  abject  slave.  The  cruelties  and 
indignities  to  which  Yalerian  was  exposed  seem 
almost  incredible.  It  is  even  said  that  the 
haughty  Sapor  never  mounted  his  horse  with- 
out stepping  upon  the  neck  of  the  kneeling 
emperor  in  order  to  ascend . 

Such,  for  seven  years,  was  the  ignominious 
life  which  Valerian,  the  sovereign  of  the  proud- 
est empire  in  the  world,  was  compelled  to  lead. 
His  subjects,  intent  upon  their  pleasures,  lost 
to  all  shame,  and  indifferent  to  the  welfare 
of  the  State,  suffered  the  insignia  of  Roman 
majesty  to  be  trampled  in  the  dust ;  and  Gal- 
lienus,  the  heartless  son  of  the  fallen  monarch, 
secretly  rejoicing  in  a  misfortune  which  gave 
him  possession  of  the  empire,  refused  to  under- 
take the  rescue  of  his  father,  saying  with  barba- 
rous coldness,  that  "  since  he  had  acted  like  a 
brave  man  he  was  satisfied." 

But  while  Gallienus,  indifferent  to  every 
thing  except  his  own  pleasures,  was  passing 
his  time  in  ease  and  luxury,  and  diverting  him- 
self in  the  company  of  buffoons,  and  infamous 
persons  of  every  kind,  the  enemies  of  the 
empire  were  daily  acquiring  greater  strength, 
220 


258  KMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

Gallns— The  Thirty  Tyrants. 

and  committing  more  fearful  depredations. 
Province  after  province  was  captured  and 
plundered  by  tin-  barbarians,  and  wheneyer  the 
news  thereof  was  brought  to  Gallienus,  he  would 
only  reply  to  it  with  a  jest. 

It  is  not  wonderful  that,  under  such  circum- 
568,  a -pi  rants  to  the  dominion  of  the  State 
should  spring  up  on  every  hand.  Xo  less  than 
thirty,  indeed,  are  said  to  have  contended, 
about  this  period,  for  the  supreme  p 
They  are  known  in  history  as  the  Thirty  Tyrant-, 
though  there  i-  hut  little  intere-t  in  what  they 
did.  IV  .-ill,  that  his  personal 

jeopardy,  GallienuB  gare  up,  fora 

season,  his  lite  of  ease  and  luxury,  and  took 
the  lield  against  his  t'oes.  It  was  to  Milan  that 
he  li:  1  his  legions,  for  tin-  jni: 

of  contending  with  one  of  the  alx-ve-inen- 
tioned  tyrai.  with  a  siu-ce^ful  army, 

threatened  to  fall  upon  "Uome.  lie  reached 
the  place  occupied  l»y  his  rival,  but  before 
coming  to  an  nent,  his  own  officers  con- 

spired to  slay  him. 

P.i-t'oiv  expiring,  he  was  prompted  to  name, 
as  his  successor,  a  general  of  great  valor  and 
distinction,  named  Claudius.  The  choice  was 
cheerfully  continued,  both  by  the  soldiers  and 
the  Senate,  and  Claudius  entered  upon  the  du- 


DEC  LINK     OF    THE     EM  PI  UK. 
Claudius— His  military  operations. 

ties  of  his  exalted  station  with  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  his  subjects.  The  ambitious 
leaders  who  had  undertaken  to  usurp  the  em- 
pire during  the  lite  of  Gallienus,  were  promptly 
subdued;  and,  then,  a  powerful  array  wa- 
to  oppo.se  the  Goths,  who,  swarming  all  over 
ad  pilla.  ';y  <>f  Athens, 

and  destroyed  most  of  the  monuments  of  ta-te 
and  learning  which  were  there  so  numerous. 

Claudius  sent  out,  at  the  same  time,  numerous 
•  check  the  progress  of  some  three  hun- 
dred thousand  barbarians,  who  had  made  their 
way.  in  -hips  along  the  river  I  )anul>e,  and  were 
•iding  terror  and  devastation  on  every  .-ide. 
o   savage  invaders,  notwithstanding  their 
superiority  in  numbers,  were  completely  over- 
thrown, and  so  many  of  them  were  taken 
oners,  that  every  province  of  the  empire  was 
abundantly  supplied  with  slaves. 

Not  long  after  tin's  Claudius  inarched  against 
the  revolted  Germans,  and  subdued  them  with 
a  terrible  slaughter.  Then  lie  undertook  an 
expedition  against  Tetricus  and  Zenobia,  the 
former  of  whom  had  usurped  the  dominion 
of  Gaul  and  Spain,  while  the  latter  had  as- 
sumed the  title  of  Queen  of  the  This 
enterprise  he  was  not  permitted  to  prosecute. 
A  dreadful  pestilence,  then  prevailing  in  Pan- 


260  EMPIRE  OF  HOME. 

Death  of  Claudius — Aurelian  made  emperor. 

nonia,  attacked  him  as  he  was  pushing  with  his 
army  tlirongh  the  city  of  Sirmium.  and  he  died, 
a  .-hort  reign  of  twu  years,  to  the  great  re- 
gret of  his  subjects,  and  the  irrcparahle  injury 
of  the  empire. 

Anxious,  however,  that  his  great  design  of 
givin  to  tlie  empire  should  be  prose- 

cute.1,  he  recommended  Aurelian.  then  master 
of  the  horse,  as  the  most  deserving  of  the 
thm:  Senate  made  some  opposition  to 

this  t«>r  (Juinctilius,  the  In-other  of  Claudius, 
claimed  the  Miccc-siou,  and  wa>  permitted  to 
a— nine  the  in-igi  ilty.  Hi>  reign  C"ii- 

tinne(l,  however,  hut  n  days,  wlieii  he 

withdrew  iVoin  the  cares  of  government,  and 
put  a  termination  to  his  own  1 

Aurelian,  who  was  now  acknowledged   rm 
peror,    applied    himself,    immedi::  .     the 

prosecution  of  the  designs  of  Claudius.     The 
obstinate  Goths,  so  long  a  tenor  to  the  em 
were   Mibdued    by    him.      Alter   three 
ments,  lie  Mieceeded  in  di'stmyinir  the  army  of 
the   (iermans.  who   liad   invaded   Italy, 
then,   having   marched   wi-tward    agaiust   the 
usurper    Tetricu^,    and    recovered    the    ] 

«-f  Gaul,  Spain,  and  Britain,  lie  turned 
his  arms  against  Zenobia.  the  proud  queen 
of  the  East,  who  had  long  resisted  the  Ko- 


DECLINE  OF  THK    ElfPlBE. 

Zonobia  qacen  of  the  East. 

mini  power,  aiui  established  an  empire  of  her 
own. 

:id  other  portions  of  the  Ro- 
man dominions,  acknowledged  her  supremacy, 
ience,  as  well  as  the  seat  of  her  gov- 
erinnent,  was  the  opulent  and  splendid  city  of 
Palmyra,  which  rose,  like  an  island,  from  the 
>andy  deserts  of  Arabia.  Here  she  acquired 
and  maintained  a  power  that  struck  terror  into 
the  11.  g,  the  so\viviirn<  "f  which, 

in  several  instances  solicited  her  friendship. 
;iad.  indeed,  the  ambition  to  be  the  mis- 
tress of  the  world,  and  might,  perhaps,  have 
tinally  succeeded,  had  she  been  opposed  by  a 
prince  of  less  resolution  and  ability  than  Aure- 

Th>  •!,.  already  successful  in  subduing 

the  numerous  enemies  of  the  empire,  as  well  as 
in  overthrowing  a  number  of  dangerous  usurp- 
ers, determined  to  recover  from  Zenobia  the 
provinces  over  which  she  had  assumed  author- 
ity. Marching,  therefore,  into  Asia,  at  the 
head  of  a  powerful  army,  he  found  the  cities 
and  provinces  through  which  he  passed,  ready 
to  acknowledge  their  allegiance.  But  Zenobia, 
unwilling  that  he  should  advance  to  the  very 
gates  of  her  capital  without  striking  a  single 
blow  in  defence  of  her  dominions,  went  forth, 


262  IFIRE    OF    KOMK. 

Aurelian's  expedition  against  Zenobia. 

followed  by  her  numerous  legions,  to  give  him 
battle.  The  hostile  armies  met  first  at  Autioch, 
where  Zenobia,  notwithstanding  the  multitude 
of  her  soldiers,  and  the  talents  of  her  general-, 
•i.  Again  they  met  at  Kmcsa.  at 
which  place  fre.-h  troops  had  been  collected  t<> 
oppose  the  Roman  emperor.  A  second  time 
...liia  now  lied  for  safety  to  Pal- 
myra, whither  Aurelian  followed  her.  and.  after 
laying  siege  to  the  city,  made  her  j.ri-.ner. 
She  di>playrd  a  great  deal  of  fortitude  in  the 

of  her  conqueror,  but  when  he 

1    soldiers  attributed  their  misfortun 

her    ambition,    and    demanded    her    execution, 

\\-as  so  cowardly  as  to  charge  her  conduct 

to  the  counsel  of  her  friends.     To  save  her  own 

:iced  the  lives  of  those  whom  >he. 

>hotild  have  1;   and  it  can    never   be 

forgotten  that  am«»nir  her  innocent  victim-  was 

tin-    celebrated    philosopher    hnngimi>,    wh»»-e 

writings   are   read    and   admired    even    at   the 

:it  day. 

IVace  having  been  thus  restored  to  the  eni- 
.    Aurelian    undertook,   now,    by    the    m..>t 
rOQfl  mea-ures.  to   r,  >train   the  dcefl  which 
had    been,    for    so    many    year.-,    permitted   to 
tlourivh  umv>trained.     Not  contented  with  pun- 
ishing licentiou>ne.->  and  injustice,  he  attempted 


DEC  LINK    OF    THE     EMPIRE.         263 
Death  of  Aurelian — An  Interregnum. 

t<>  interfere  in  matters  of  conscience,  and  thus 
1  a  vast  amount  of  snUering  among  the 
inoffensive  Christians.     But  so  l>arl>ar.»u-  were 
the  punishments  which  he  inflicted  upon  th<»e 
incurred  his  displeasure,  that  a  conspiracy 
wa-  iinally  formed  against  him  by  his  officers, 
and  !  e  so  common  to  his  pre- 

decessors, at  the  age  of  abon;  .  and 

•ly  live.     Thnso  who  liad 
rj  t<»  his  death  appeared  to  r< 
ly,  and   united   with    the    legion-    in 
praying  the  Senate  t»»  place  him  in  the  number 
of  the  g< 

JJnrin^  the  eight  months  that  lollouvd  the 
death  «>f  Aiuvlian,  the  empire  remained  with- 
out a  sovereign,  and,  what  i<  vei-y  remarkable, 
nothing  occurred  to  disturlj  it.<  peace.  Various 
reasons  are  assigned  l«>r  |  aonlinary  in- 

terregnum, the  most  probable  of  which  is,  that 
no  one  felt  a  di  >}>»•- it  ion  to  seek  an  oflSce  whose 
occupant  seldom  failed  to  en<  the  assas- 

sin's knife.  The  Senate,  though  fur  some  time 
indisposed  to  make  a  choice, found  tkemsel\v<, 
at  length,  compelled  to  name  some  one  as  com- 
mander of  the  armies  now  necessary  to  be  led 
against  the  Germans,  wbo  were  beginning  their 
depredations  in  Gaul,  as  well  as  against  the 
Xing  of  Persia,  who  was  evidently  disposed  to 


264:  KM  PIKE    OF    HOME. 

Tacitus  chosen  emperor. 

usurp   the   empire   in   the  East.      Convening 
for  this   purpose,  they   elected,   unanimously, 

tin-  .-enator  Tacitus,  a  relative  of  the  historian 
of  that  name. 

Tacitus  was  very  unwilling  to  accept  the 
proffered  dignity,  and  lie  even  left  the  city,  in 
urder  to  <. -scape  the  solicitations  of  the  Senate 
and  the  people.  But  his  objections  were  finally 
overcome,  and  although  i;  :ty-ii\v  years 

of  age,  he  accepted  the  reins  of  government. 
Hi-  elevation  to  the  throne  wa<  considered  a 
greattriunii.il  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  and 
they  even  believed  that  they  would  no", 
Mime  their  ancient  authority,  and  that  Home, 
treed  from  the  military  despotism  under  which 
it  had  been  -<>  long  crushed,  was  destined  to  be 
more  flourishing  than  ever. 

Tacit  11-  began  his  reign  by  punishing,  with 
great  -evcrity,  those  who  had  been  engaged  in 
the  murder  of  Aurelian.  There  wa<  not,  how- 
ever. the*lea>t  exhibition  of  cruelty  COIIIH 
with  this,  or  any  of  his  subsequent  acts;  and 
his  reign,  had  it  been  of  sufficient  length, 
would  have  proved  highly  benelicial  to  the 
Uoman  empire.  But  he  was  too  old  to  endure 
the  fatigues  of  ruling;  and,  within  six  months 
after  as-iiming  the  reins  of  government,  he 
died  of  a  fever  with  which  he  was  seized, 


DECLINE  OF  THI:   KMPIRE. 

Florlanus  and  Probus. 

while  inarching  against  the  Persian-  and 
Scythians,  wlio  had  invaded  the  ea>tern  por- 
tions of  the  empire. 

For  a  few  months  following  the  death  of 
Tacitus,  a  civil  war  seemed  to  threaten  the 
empire,  in  consequence  of  its  usurpation  by 
Floriumis,  the  brother  of  the  deceased  emperor. 
Many  of  the  legions  promised  to  maintain  his 
cau-e,  but  a  powerful  opposition  made  against 
them  by  the  Senate,  under  the  direction  of 
Probus,  a  general  of  great  virtue  and  ability, 
resulted  in  the  death  of  Florianus,  and  saved  a 
: mount  of  bloodshed. 

The  reign  of  Probus,  which  continued  for  a 
space  of  more  than  six  years,  is  remarkable 
only  for  a  series  of  wars  with  the  numerous 
barbarous  nations  which,  for  such  a  length  of 
time,  had  harassed  the  empire.  The  (Germans 
in  Gaul  suifered  terribly  at  his  hands.  The 
Sarmatians,  the  Goths,  and  even  the  Persians, 
were  obliged  to  submit  to  his  victorious  arms. 
And,  in  addition  to  all  his  victories  over  the 
enemies  of  the  State,  he  suppressed  a  number 
of  dangerous  intestine  commotions.  But  the 
great  restraint  which  he  put  upon  the  licen- 
tiousness of  his  soldiers,  irritated  them  so  much 
that  they  finally  entered  into  a  conspiracy  and 
slew  him.  Such,  however,  was  their  admira- 
23 


KM  TIRE   OF   HOME. 

FurthtT  usurpations  of  the  soldiery. 

lion  of  him  as  a  general,  that  they  riveted  to 
his  memory  a  costly  monument,  with  thi- 
scription :    ''Here   lies    the    emperor   Prohus, 
truly  de-ei-vim:  the  name  ;  a  subduer  of  barba- 
.  ami  a  conqueror  of  usurpers." 

On  the  death  uf  J'mhus,  the  Roman  soldiery 
roiimed   the  authority  which   they   had,  now, 
for  some  time,  quietly  accorded  to  the  Sei 
They  determined   t«»  make  an  emperor  of  their 
own  number,  an-i.  v,  selected  Carus, 

the  Pnetorian  prefect,  who,  on  a<-  t'  his 

advanced  age,  associated  with  him-elf  hi- 
sons,  Carinus  and  Numerian.      II  .  iio\v- 

.  as  well   as  that  of  his  two  sons,  was  so 
.-hort   and   undi-i'  d,  as  scanvly   to 

•  a   menti--:!.      1 !  to   have   been    a 

brave  and  aeeonipli-hed  -oldivr,  \\>r  hi-  had 
hardly  a-eended  tho  throne,  when  he  was 
obliged  to  march  out  aira  .  who 

•i  airain  to  oppo- 

of  Ctoiphon  was  the  scene  of  a  bloody  battle 
between  him  and  the  IVr-ian  kinir,  over  whuin 
he  would.  dOUhtieOB,  ha\r  ..l.taiiu-d  a  complete 

pj,  had  he  not  bren  >trnck  dead  in  hi- 
>hortly  after  his  iirst  >uccess. 

Numerian,  the  younp-r  son  of  Carus.  could 
not  be  consoled  ibr  the  loss  of  his  lather,  and 
he,  him.-elf.  was  doubtless  assa^inaied  by 


DECLINE  OF   THI;    KM  PIKE. 

Dioclcaian  chosen  emperor. 

Arius  Aper,  the  1'nvtorian  pra-t'ect.  who  hoped 

thus  t«>  obtain  the  empire.     But  the  indiirnu- 

ti«.m    of  the  army    was    so  great    when    they 

••I   the  treachery  of  Aper,    that  they 

ed  to  give  him  their  support,  and  chose,  for 
empen»r,  C.Valerius  Dioclesian,a  man  of  mean 
birth,  but  a  very  successful  general,  who  slew 
Aper  with  his  own  hand. 

•clesian  found  himself  securely  seated  on 
the  throne,  after  overcoming  Carinus,  the  re- 
maining son  of  Cams,  whose  pretensions  to 
the  i  support. 

Then  associating  with  himself,  on  the  throne, 
Valerius  Maximian,  a  very  rude,  though 

ageous  soldier,  lu-  hi-iran  t<»  ivpel  the  bar- 
barians, who  had,  by  this  time,  re-unied  their 
hostilities.  Scarcely  had  quiet  been  restored  in 
(Jaul,  when  he  was  obli'iT'-d  to  inarch  his  armies 
8  Achilleus,  tlie  governor,  had 
a— uiiK-d  the  tit K- of  emperor.  Having  punished 
tlie  rebels  here,  and  condemned  Achilleus  to  be 

;ired  by  lions,  he  was  compelled  to  under- 
take a  long  and  difficult  war  in  Afriea,  where 
the  legions  had  revolted  and  seized  upon  the 
public  revenues.  Difficulties  arose  about  tlie 
same  time  in  Britain  on  account  of  the  usurpa- 
tion of  Carausius,  the  commander  there,  who 
proclaimed  himself  emperor ;  and,  indeed,  on 


268  K  M  r  i  UK   OF    ROM  I. 

Dioclesian  divides  the  empiro— Persecution  of  the  Christians. 

e\vry  hand   1.  ed   called  upon  to  defend 

the   eni])irc  either  against  barbarians  or   pre- 
tenders. 

.  ievinir  that,  under  these  circumstance 

tor  him  to  have  other  a 

in  the  task  of  government,  besides  ^laximian, 
lit  In  of  Ccesar  upon  (ialeriu-, 
sill-named  Armentarius,  and  upon  (V>nstantinus 
Chlnrus,  two  generals  of  distinguished  merit. 
To  the.-e  twoCsesars  an  equal  slian-  ..t'thi- 

:  authority  was   i:\\>  :s   as- 

sumiiiLr  inwards  them  *!,».  ehara«-ter  «»f  lather — 
Diocle-ian   adnj.tin^  (ialerins,   and  Maximian 
adnptiiiLr    < '«»n<taiitins.      Tlie-e    i'nur    - 
then  divi«le«l  the  empire  1  liiem.      (  Jaul, 

Spain,  ai  i   tn  ('..» 

:   and   tlie    Illyrian   pn-vi!  e    placed 

under  the  pmtectinii  <•!'  (Valerius. 

Tin-  empire,  though  imw  apparently  well 
iruarded.  \va-.  neverihele--.  liara-sed  in  a  tearful 
manner  by  the  barbarians  of  the  north,  who 
watelu-d  opportunity  t«>  eommit  their 

ra\a-i'-.  Hut  the  sn tiering  wrought  in  this 
way,  were  ii'^tliin^  fnmj.aivd  with  the  la-t 
Of  the  Christians  which  occurred 
about  this  time.  It  exceeded  in  severity  any 
other  that  had  pivvi<>ii>ly  taken  place.  So 
great,  indeed,  was  the  barbarity  with  which 


DECLINE   OF   THE    EMPIRE. 

Diocleaian  and  Maximian  resign  their  power. 

these  inoltensive  persons  were  pursued,  that 
it  is  related  on  an  ancient  inscription,  that 
"  the  government  had  effaced  the  name  and 
superstition  of  the  Christians,  and  had  re- 
stored and  propagated  the  worship  of  the 
gods." 

In   the  midst  of  this  persecution  the   two 
oldest   emperors,   Dioclesian    and    Maximian, 

d   the   greatest  astonishment  by   laying 
aside  their  imperial  robes,  and  going  into  pri- 

lil'e.     ('nn-tantius  and  Galerius  agreed,  at 

to  divide  the  empire  b<  hem,  but 

finding  themselves  unequal  to  the  task  of  gov- 
erning it,  even  under  such  an  arrangement, 

concluded,  in  imitation  of  their  late  col- 
leagues, to  take  two  partners  under  the  title  of 
Caesars.     Maxim  in  and  Severus  were,  accord- 
ingly, invested  with  this  dignity. 
During  the  second  year  of  his  reign,  Con- 
sent to  Britain,  and  took  up  hi 
deuce  at  York.     Here  he  continued  lor  some 
time  in  the  practice  of  every  virtue.     A  • 
sickness  overtaking  him,  he  sent  for  his  son, 
Constantino,  to  whom  he  bequeathed  the  em- 
pire, saying   "  that   none  but  the  pious  Con- 
stantine  should  succeed  him." 

Galerius,  his  colleague,  was  very  much  en- 
raged at  the  appointment  of  Constantine,  and 
23* 


270  EMPIRE  OF  ROMK. 


Maxcntius. 


declared  that  Severus  sliould  enjoy  the  authority 

in  his  sU.-a«l.  Another  pretender  named  Maxrn- 
tius  immediately  arose,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
empire  was  filled  with  the  most  frightful  dis- 
sensions. 


ROME  ABANDONED. 

FBOU   306  TO  337,  A.  D. 


I  >i  VISION  of  the  empire — Rome  taxed  like  a  province — 
Rebellion  of  the  people — Attempts  to  punish   tin::. 
<  IDJM  tors  at  the  same  time— Maximin  and  Constai. 
(  iu«  ity  of  Maxentius — Constantino  marches  against  lam- 
Bis  success  throughout  Italy — Maxentius  opposes  him  in 
person— Vision  of  Constantino— EOs  great  battle  with  Max- 
— He  enters  Rome — The  Praetorian  guards  disbanded 
— Constantino,  at  peace— The  Goths — Contest  with  huinius 
:s— The  Council  of  Nice— Constant  it  aes  to 

found  a  new  capital — Omens — Building  of  Constantinople — 
Kapidity  of  the  work— Rome  abandoned— Death  of  Con- 
stantino. 


X. 

ROME  ABANDONED. 


IT  was  during  the  reign  of  Constantino  that 
tin*  city  of  Rome,  ceasing  to  be  the  capital  of 
the  empire,  was  shorn  of  the  glory  which  it 
had  so  long  possessed,  and  <1  t<>  the  posi- 

tion of  a  subordinate  to  a  power  which  it  ha<l 
originated,  and  at  the  head  of  which  it  had 
stood  for  centuries.  This  is,  then,  a  very  promi- 
nent point  in  its  history,  and  one  from  which  it 
is  int.  to  review  its  past,  or  proceed  to 

the  study  of  those  succeeding  events  connected 
with  its  decay  and  downfall. 

Constantine,  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death, 
was  thirty-two  years  of  age,  and  remarkable 
for  his  vigor  of  body  and  mind.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  of  a  tall  and  majestic  figure,  well 
skilled  in  the  use  of  arms,  affable  in  his  man- 
ners, prudent  in  speech  and  conduct,  and  of 
unbounded  ambition.  At  this  time,  as  already 


274:  EMPIRE  OF  EOME. 

The  divisions  of  the  empire — Rome  taxed. 

stated,  the  empire  was  divided  between  three 
or  four  individuals,  who,  with  more  or  less 
claim  to  authority,  exercised  the  royal  preroga- 
tive in  different  quarters.  The  provinces  of 
Gaul,  Spain,  and  Britain,  received  Constantine, 
with  acclamation,  as  the  successor  of  his  father 
Constantius.  Galerius  claimed  the  mastery  of 
all  the  countries  lying  between  the  confines  of 
Italy  and  Syria;  and  subservient  to  his  inter- 
ests were  Maximin,  who  was  intrusted  with 
the  sovereign  command  <>f  Egypt  and  Syria, 
and  Severus,  who  was  in  possession  of  Italy  and 
Africa. 

Tlic  mormons  sums  of  money  which  the  ex- 
travagance or  avarice  of  Galerius  required, 
about  this  period,  caused  a  heavy  tax  t<>  bo  laid 
upon  the  whole  ei  up  ire.  'Hie  people  of  Home, 
since  the  e«>n.jih->t  <>f  Macedonia,  had  been  ex- 
empted in  mi  the  burden  of  personal  tax ;  but 
Galerius  issued  ;i  command,  from  his  palace  in 
Nicomedia,  that  K«mie  should  pay  its  propor- 
tion of  the  tribute,  like  any  other  city  of  the 
empire.  This  insolent  attempt  to  place  Eome 
in  the  position  of  a  mere  province,  aroused  the 
indignation  of  both  the  Senate  and  the  people. 
The  IVa-toriau.  guards,  too,  looking  upon  it  as 
an  indication  of  an  approaching  overthrow  of 
their  authority,  declared  their  willingness  i<>  re- 


ROME  ABANDONED.  275 

Rebellion  at  Borne. 

sent  the  insult,  and  to  draw  their  swords  in 
favor  of  any  person  whom  the  Senate  might 
choose  to  name  as  emperor. 

A  conspiracy,  at  the  head  of  which  were  two 
•rian  praefecN.  wn*  at  once  formed.  All 
those  officers  who  preferred  to  acknowledge  the 
authority  of  Severn?,  emperor  of  Italy,  and  of 
his  colleague,  or  rather  his  master,  Galeriu^, 
emperor  of  A>ia,  were  put  to  death; and  Max- 
entius,the  son  of  the  emperor  Max!  mian,  was  ele- 
i  to  the  throne  by  the  united  voice  of  the 
Senate,  the  Praetorian  guards,  and  the  people. 
The  old  Maximian,  who,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, had,  some  time  previous,  resigned  the 
empire,  now  came  forth  from  his  retirement,  and 
offered  his  great  military  talents  in  favor  of  his 
son  Maxentius. 

Intelligence  of  the  revolt  was  carried  imme- 
diately to  Galerius,  and  in  accordance  with  his 
advice,  Severus  marched  towards  Home  at  the 
head  of  an  immense  army,  in  order  to  subdue 
the  rebellious  city.  But  when  he  arrived,  a 
large  portion  of  his  troops  deserted  him,  and 
he  was  forced  to  take  refuge  in  Ravenna,  where 
an  asylum  was  offered  to  him.  Thither  Maxi- 
minian  marched  with  a  numerous  force,  and 
laying  siege  to  the  city,  succeeded,  at  length,  in 
making  Severus  his  prisoner.  The  unfortunate 


276  KMPIBE  OF  ROME. 

Attempt  to  punish  the  rebellious  city. 

man  was  taken  to  Rome,  and,  not  long  after- 
wards, put  to  death. 

Maximian,  now   Imping  to   strengthen   the 
cause  of  Maxentius  by  an  alliance  with  Con- 
stantino, who   was   in  quiet   possession  of  the 
rn  provinces,  crossed  the  Alps  with  -his 
daughter   I:'au>ta,  whom  he  offered  tu  give  in 
marriage  to  this  emperor.     Constantino  accept- 
ed the  oiler;  but,  while  he  thus  appeared  toes- 
ise  of  Rome  and  of  the  Senate,  he 
determined  to  remain,  for  the  present,  a 
tator  of  the  contest  which  was  inevitable  be- 

n  ( Valerius  and  Maxentius. 
In  the  mean  time,  (ialcrius,  intrusting  the  dc- 
•    of  the    Danube    to   his  friend  Licinius, 
.1  InniM-lf  at  th--  head  of  a  powerful  army, 
and  marched  toward-  tor  the  purp" 

4'  the  death  <»f  Severus,  and  punishing 

tlu»  rebellious  city.    Jle  found,  however,  that  it. 

obtain  n 

through  Italy.     V.  ' y  sent  out  its  hosts  to 

oppo.-e-  his  pn»giv>s,  and  he  was  forced  to  make 
an  ignominious  retreat,  or  incur  the  risk  of 
sharing  the  fa  to  of  Severus. 

Reaching  his  capital  in  safety,  and  still 
hoping  to  accomplish  his  purpose,  he  imme- 
diately appointed  Licinius  to  the  throne  ren- 
dered vacant  by  the  death  of  Severus.  But 


ROMK    A.BANDONKD.  L'77 

>l>erors  at  the  same  time. 

Maximin,  the  governor  of  Kgypt  and  Syria, 
having  been  informed  of  this  appointment,  was 
filled  with  jealousy,  and  Galerius  was  com- 
pelled to  grant  to  him  also  the  title  of  emperor. 
Maximian,  the  father  of  Maxentius,  liad  like- 

ivMimed  tin'  imperial  emblems  which  he 
had  once  laid  a>ide\  and  thus  the  attair-  of  the 
Unman  world  were  administered,  at  the  same 
time,  hy  six  ditleivnt  emperors  :  in  the  V 
by  C''in>tantine.  .Maximian,  and  Maxentius; 
and  in  the  East,  by  Galerius,  Severus,  and 

:us. 

Max*::1!!;-,  relieved,  by  the  retreat  «>f  <. 
rius.  ot'llu-  anxiety  which  lie  felt  for  the  perma- 
nency of  his   power,  now    became    impatient 
of  the  control  of  his  father,  Maximian.  ^ 
love  of    authority   seemed    to    increase    with 
his  many  years.     After  a  vain  trial  <>f  « 

lient  to  get  rid  of  the  old  man's -inter- 
fere* nee,  he  finally  appealed  to  the  Pnvtnrian 
guards,  who  decided  that  Maxim ian  was  not 
the  legal  sovereign  of  Italy,  and  compelled  him 
to  leave  the  country.  lie  went  first  to  Illyri- 
cum,  but  being  driven  thence  by  Galerius,  he 
departed  to  the  court  of  his  son-in-law.  C'on-tan- 
tine. Here  he  was  well  received,  and  here  he 
might  have  lived  in  peace,  had  not  his  uncon- 
querable love  of  power  prompted  him  to  an  act 

24 


MM  PI  RE     OF    IwOMK. 


Maximian  and  Constantine. 


as  absurd  a-  it  was  deU-table.  Taking  advan- 
tage, atone  time,  of  the  absence  of  Constantine, 
who  was  compelled  to  lead  his  army  against 
the  hostile  Franks,  he  caused  a  report  to  be 
,;d  that  Constantine  was  dead,  and  there- 
upon ascended  the  throne,  and  seized  upon  the 
public  trea-mv.  l>ut  his  usurped  authority  was 
oiViiMi-t  duration.  Constantine  soon  reappeared. 
and  Maximian.  unable  to  retain  the  imperial 
pM\ver.  lied,  but  was  MH.H  after  captured  and 
put  to  death. 

ThOB  fell  the  oldest  <»f  the-e  m  mporarv 

emperon.     (lah-rius  wa>  not  destined  to  sur- 
liim   lung:  he   •  r  his 

at  i'n>ni  Italy.  «.f  a  loathsome  -  vliich 

reiidei\-<l  him  an  object  too  disgust mir  to  be- 
hold. Hisdcath  ,  jealousy,  at  once, 
between  Maximin  and  Severn-,  wlm  bnth 

dominions  which   he  left.     They 
made  pivparatinn  Me  their  claims  by  an 

appeal  to  <mns,  but  linall  :  to  divide  the 

territories  «rnverlu'd  by(ialerius.  They,  how- 
ever,  becanu-  enemies.  Licinius  connected  him- 
self witli  Constantine.  and  "Maximin  entere<l 
into  ;.  alliance  with  Maxentins. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  people  of  II 
bewail  to  sutler  at  the  hands  of  Maxentius  al- 

D 

all  the  horrors  that  had  been  inflicted  up- 


ROME  ABANDONED. 

Cruelty  of  Maxcntius— His  insolent  conduct  towards  his  colleagues. 

on  them  by  their  former  tyrants.  Towards  the 
Senate,  especially, did  lie  manifest  an  implaca- 
ble hatred.  He  exerted  from  them  immense 
sums  of  money,  to..k  pleasure  in  exposing  them 
to  insult  and  contempt,  and  even  caused  a  great. 
number  of  them  to  be  put  to  death.  On  a  cer- 
tain occasion,  he  gave  np  the  people  to  be 
slaughter  -nan  guards,  and  mul- 

titudes fell  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  Dot 
by  the  arn>\vs  and  spears  of  the  barbarian-, 
but  by  '  'heir  fellow-citi/en-. 

But  it  was  not  Rome,  alone,  that  suffered 
from  his  brutality.  All  Italy,  delivered  up  to 
the  lie-en-  and  plunder  of  his  merciless 

troops,  Wftfl  tilled  with  indescribable  wretched- 
;-lendid  villas  of  unoffending  no- 
blemen were  bestowed  upon  his  military  favor- 
ites, and  the  wives  of  distinguished  senators 
en  to  his  soldiers.  He.  himself,  in- 
closed within  the  walls  of  his  palace,  and  pro- 
tected by  his  inhuman  legions,  passed  the  time 
in  debauchery,  and  boasted  that  the  emperors 
Constantino,  Maximin,  and  Licinius,  were  his 
lieutenants,  to  whom  he  had  intrusted  the  de- 
fence of  his  distant  provinces. 

The  empty  boasts  of  a  drunken  braggadocio 
received  but  little  attention  from  these  princes 
of  the  empire ;  but,  when,  at  length,  he  caused 


280  KMPIKE   OF   KOME. 

Constantino  marches  against  Maxentius. 

the  statues  of  Constantine  to  be  thrown  down, 
under  pretence  of  revenging  the  death  of  his 
father  Maximum,  whom  he  himself  had  perse- 
1  and  banished  from  Italy,  he  took  a  step 
which  resulted  in  his  destruction. 

Constantine  did  not  immediately  collect  his 
armies  and  march  forth  to  Rome  to  punish 
"Maxell  tins,  but  simply  sent  ambassadors  to  ob- 
tain from  him  some  apology  for  his  conduct. 
This,  however,  he  refused  to  give,  and  even  be- 
gan to  collect  a  powerful  army,  with  which  lie 
threatened  to  overrun  Gaul,  and  force  Constan- 
tine to  surrender  his  dominio 

Con-tantine,  in  the  mean  time,  having  been 
strongly  urged  by  the  Senate  and  people  to 
deliver  Rome  from  this  detestable  tyrant,  de- 
termined to  march  his  legions  into  the  heart  of 
Italy.  This  In*  knew  would  be  a  very  diihYult 
undertaking,  tor  his  armies  were  only  about 
half  as  numerous  as  i  Maxentius.  and  it 

was  aeceflBftly  for  him,  moreover,  to  leave  a 
large  number  of  legions  to  defend  the  Rhine. 
IK1  wa-  sure,  however,  that  the  tnn.ps,  of  Koine, 
enervated  by  indulgence  and  luxury,  and  long 
unused  to  war,  would  need  to  be  vastly  superior 
in  numbers,  in  order  to  compete  with  the  hardy 
of  Gaul.  Setting  out,  then,  at  the 
head  of  about  forty  thousand  soldiers,  he 


M  i;   A  11  AN  HONED.  281 

Success  of  Constantino  in  Italy. 

marched  to  encounter  an  enemy  that  consisted 
of  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand. 

Before  Maxentius  had  received  intelligence 
of  his  coining,  Constantino  had  already  crossed 
the  Alps,  and  appeared  before  the  city  of  Susa, 
ovr-r  the  high  walls  .of  which  his  soldiers  clam- 

1,  amidst  a  shower  of  stones  and  arr 
and,  with  s\v<>rd  B  ',  compelled  the  gar- 

Maxnitins  to  yield.      From   Su.-a,  he 
direr-  -ourse  to  the  plains  of  Turin,  win-re, 

minn-rous  legion*  had  been  sent  to  meet  him. 
Falling  upon  these  witji  unexpected  fury,  he 
succeeded.  n<»t  simply  in  putting  them  to  flight, 
bnt  in  cutting  them  to  pieces,  in  a  most  fearful 
manner.  Tlu-n  he  took  possession  of  Milan, 
and,  indeed,  of  all  the  cities  of  Italy  between 
and  the  river  Po. 

With  a  view  to  making  his  entrance  into 
Rome  still  more  certain,  he  delayed  his  march 
thitherward.  l'»r  the  purpose  of  freeing  himself 
from  an  immense  army  which  held  the  city  of 
Verona  and  the  province  of  Venetia.  In  order 
to  do  this,  he  was  obliged  to  undertake  the 
siege  of  Verona,  which,  on  account  of  the  pe- 
culiar position  of  the  place,  was  a  very  difficult 
and  dangerous  task.  His  first  attempts  were 
unsuccessful ;  but  the  general  of  Maxentius  was 
finally  defeated  by  the  superior  skill  of  Con- 

24° 


EMPIRE  OF  HOME. 


Maxentius  Induced  to  oppose  Constantino. 


slant  ine,  and  Yerona  surrendered,  and  its  gar- 
rison became  prisoners  of  war. 

Although  thus  lar  at  every  step  successful, 
Constantino  had  much  to  do,  for  Maxentius 
could  still  command  soldiers  arid  treasures 
almost  unlimited.  Tin's  miserable  sovereign 
had,  as  yet,  paid  but  little  attention  to  the 
rapid  progre.-s  of  his  fortunate  rival,  and  rely- 
ing. probably,  upon  his  boundless  resources  and 
the  valor  of  the  Pnetonan  guard-.  lie  continued 
to  pa.-<  bis  time  in  the  pleasure.**  and  amu>e- 

ments  to  which  he  had  l>e»-n  BO  long  devoted. 

Uut  hi-  •  ucceeded,  at   last,  in  aroii>ing 

him  to  the  danger  of  hifl  p".-itinn;  and  in  this 
tbey  were  not  a  little  aided  by  the  indignant 
clamors  of  th  •.  who  began  to  a.-semble 

about,  the  palace  gates,  and  loudly  charge  the 
emperor  with   cowardice  and   indolence. 
coupled  his  name  with  e\>  ithet, 

and  even  made  the  circus  resound  with  their 
bitter  rep 

Thus  induced  -t«»  make  a  desperate  effort  in 
behalf  of  his  tottering  power,  Maxentius  raised 
another  powerful  army,  and,  taking  Command 
<»f  it  in  person,  went  forth  to  meet  his  enemy. 
Constantine,  if  we-  may  believe  the  historian 
bins,  felt,  now,  the  utmost  confidence  that 
Koine  would  fall,  without  difficulty,  into  his 


HOMK  ABANDONED. 

•n  of  Constantino. 

hands.  He  had,  in  tlio  course  of  his  maivh, 
according  to  that  historian,  seen  a  vision,  in 
which  u  bright  cross  appeared  in  the  heavens 
bearing,  in  the  Greek  language,  this  inscription  : 
•*  L\  THIS  :i.  !"  IVrplexcd  by  a  circum- 

stance so  extraordinary,  he  had  recourse  to  the 
learned    men    around    him,    b..:h    I'agan     and 
Christian.     The    former   pronounced    ir   an   in- 
.  portending  the   most  untbrtu- 
nate  events;  tin-   latter  maintained  that  it  was 
an  indication  that  hU  cause  would   receive-  the 
:  of  Heaven. 

Di-ji'i-i-d  to  adopt  the  interpretation  nio-t 

lavurablo  to  him-c-if,  Constantine  made  a  public 
pr"tu»i«.M  of  ( 'hri-tianity  ;  and,  causing  a  royal 
Mandard  to  In-  ma-;  'iibling  the  • 

which  he  had  seen  in  the  heavens,  c<»inniandc<l 
it  to  be  carried  before  him,  in  tin-  war-,  as  an 
en-ign  of  victory  and  celestial  pmti-ftion.  Thus, 
the  first  of  the  Roman  emperors  who  had  aban- 
doned pa.  for  Christianity ,  he  now  1. 
his  march  towards  Rome,  expecting  that  the 
cowardly  Maxentius,  shutting  himself  up  within 
its  walls,  would  compel  him  to  besiege  and, 
perhaps,  destroy  this  great  and  magnificent  city. 
How  great  was  the  surprise  of  Constantine, 
when,  arriving  within  nine  miles  of  Eome,  he 
saw,  stretched  out  all  along  the  plains  which 


284  K  M.  F  IKE    O  F    K  O  M  E  . 

His  great  battle  with  Maxentius. 

bordered  the  Tiber,  the  innumerable  hosts  of 
Maxentius  waiting  to  receive  him.  They  were 
well  arranged  for  fighting,  but,  with  their  backs 
to  the  river,  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  fly. 
CoQstantine,  surveying  the  ground  with  his 
well-trained  eye,  disposed  his  troops  for  battle. 
The  post,  of  honor  and  of  danger  was  selected 
for  himself;  and,  putting  on  his  most  splendid 
armor,  he  charged,  in  person,  the  cavalry  of 
the  enemy.  Such  was  the  vigor  of  his  attack, 
that  tln-y  speedily  gave  way,  and  left  the  in- 
fantry wholly  unprotected*  Legion  after  legion 
of  the-e  now  began  t« »  desert  the  detested  Max- 
entins,  leaving  the  Pnetorian  guards  almost 
alone  to  defend  his  cause.  The  guards,  who 
could  not  hope,  for  any  mercy  from  Constantino, 
fought  with  desperation,  and  fell,  on  all  sides, 
by  hundreds  and  by  thousands.  Finding,  at 
length,  that  death  was  inevitable,  the  broken 
troops  of  Maxentius  fled  precipitately  into  the 
river,  whose  surface  was  soon  covered  by  their 
lifeless  bodies.  Maxentius  himself,  hoping  to 
escape  to  the  city,  attempted  to  cross  the  Mil- 
vian  bridge ;  but  the  structure,  unable  to  sup- 
port the  crowd  that  accompanied  him,  gave 
way,  and  he  fell  to  the  bottom  of  the  stream, 
whence  his  body  was  recovered  on  the  follow- 
ing day,  and  exposed  to  the  people. 


ROME    ABANDONED.  285 

Constantino  enters  Rome. 

Constantino  entered  the  city  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  imperial  palace;  but  his  profession 
of  Christianity  did  not  prevent  him  from  putting 
to  death  the  two  sons  of  Maxentius,  and  care- 
fully extirpating  his  -whole  race.  He  did  not, 
however,  exhibit,  otherwise,  any  unnecessary 
cruelty.  The  Roman  people  demanded  of  him 
a  great  many  victims,  but  he  refused  to  punish 
any  who  were  not  fully  convicted  of  the  charges 
brought  against  them.  Persons  who  had  been 
unjustly  banished  <>r  imprisoned  during  the  pre- 
ceding reign,  were  restored  to  their  rights. 
The  Senate  received  the  promise  that  they 
should  enjoy  again  their  ancient  dignity  and 
privileges  ;  and,  as  a  grateful  return,  they 
granted  to  Constantino  the  first  rank  among 
the  three  emperors  who  now  governed  the  Ro- 
man world.  Games  and  festivals  were  also  in- 
stituted in  honor  of  his  victory,  and  numerous 
edifices  were  dedicated  to  him. 

Although  Constantine  spent  but  a  very  short 
time  in  Rome,  he  succeeded  in  correcting  many 
abuses  which  had  been  encouraged  by  his  pre- 
decessor. The  Praetorian  guards,  whose  num- 
bers and  privileges  were  greatly  increased  by 
Maxentius,  had  resumed  all  their  former  haugh- 
tiness. "No  sooner  had  Constantine  taken  pos- 
session of  the  city,  than  he  caused  the  remnant 


286  K  M  PIKE   OF   Ko M E . 

The  Prsetorian  guards  disbanded. 

of  tliese  soldiers  to  be  banished  to  the  frontiers 
of  the  empire;  and  the  fortified  camp  which 
they  had  so  long  occupied,  to  be  levelled  to  the 
ground. 

It  was  not  long  after  Constantino's  entrance 
intu  Italy,  that  the  death  of  Maximin  reduced 
tin-  number  of  the  Roman  emperor.-  to  three. 
.Not  discouraged  by  the  fate  of  Maxentius,  with 
whom  lu-  was  in  alliance.  Maximin  undertook 
to  increase  hi-  dominion-  by  a  war  upon  Licin- 
ius,  the  Illyrian  emperor.  His  iinineiise  army 
wa-  cut  to  piece-,  and  he,  liim>elf,  within 
three  months  after,  died,  probably,  from 
the-  chagrin  attending  the  failure  of  his  enter- 
prise. 

Although    the  e    dominions   of  the 

remaining emperon,  ('"iistantine  and  Licinius, 

thu-  very  much  augmented,  they  were 
jealous  of  each  other's  power,  and  willing  to 
Jind  M>me  pretext  for  toting  each  other's 
strength.  It  was  not  long  before  Constantino 
found  sullicient  rea>on  for  war.  in  the  indignities 
which  had  been  otl'ered  to  the  statues  erected  to 
his  hoin»r  along  the  frontiers  of  Italy.  Two 
battles  were  subsequently  fought;  one,  near 
Cibalis,  a  city  of  Pannonia,  and  another  on  the 
plain  of  Manila  in  Thrace.  Licinius  lost  in 
both,  and  sued  for  peace.  It  was  granted  to 


ROME  ABANDONED. 

Constantino  at  peace— The  Gothsi 

him,  but  his  dominions  were  confined  to  Thrace, 
Asia  Minor,  Syria,  and  Egypt. 

A  peace  of  eight  years,  between  these  two 
jealous  emjx'  ued.      During  this  time 

itantine  employed  liimself  in  amending  the 
already  e>tahli>hed,  and  in  enacting  such 
others   a<   In-  !    i->seiitial    to   the   public 

good.  In  the  mean  time  the  Goth-,  who  had 
rapidly  i:  i  in  strength  and  numbers,  in- 

curred his  displea>mv.      His  legions  wn 

Oft  them,  and  alter  a  number  of  blo"dy  hat- 
:hey  were  c«  impelled  to  purcha-e  an  ign<>- 
minioiH  peace.  N«»t  C"iitented  with  this,  In-  iv- 
snlved  t«>  puni-h  other  barbarous  nations  that  had 
invaded  the  Roman  territories ;  and  to  this  end, 
repairing  the  bridge  built  by  Trajan  across  the 
Danube,  he  to<>k  a  terrible  revenge  upon  the 
enemies  of  the  empire. 

The  great  -1  :iich  followed  the  arms  of 

Constantino  in  these  wars  upon  the  barbarians, 
strengthened  him,  no  doubt,  in  his  determina- 
tion to  become  the  sole  ruler  of  the  Roman 
empire.  Licinius,  his  rival,  was  now  becom- 
ing advanced  in  age,  and  there  was  a  strong 
probability  that  he  would  make  but  a  feeble 
resistance  to  an  army  fresh  from  the  field  of 
victory.  Without  a  shadow  of  provocation, 
Constantino  prepared  to  march  against  him ; 


288  K  M  P 1  R  E     OF     II  0  M  K  . 

Contest  between  Constantine  and  Licinlus. 

but  the  old  emperor,  though  startled  by  the  in- 
telligence, resolved  that  he  would  make  a 
desperate  defence  of  the  comparatively  small 
dominions  which  still  remained  to  him. 

Summoning,  then-fore,  the.  great,  energy  that 
h;ul  characterized  his  earlier  days,  he  collet-ted, 
with  incredible  promptness,  an  immense  army 
of  a  hundred  and  iifry  thousand  foot,  ami  lifteen 
thousand  liorse,  together  with  a  fleet  of  three 
hundred  and  iifty  galleys.  Ascertaining  that 
tin-  army  of  ('onstantinc.  somewhat  inferior  in 
numbers  to  his  own.  was  approaching  the  city 
of  Hadrianople,  !.•  1  a  fortified  cam]) 

in  the  vieiniry  of  that  ])lace.  According 
to  his  expectation-,  ( '"ii>t:int ine  directed  his 
march  towards  him.  For  several  days  the 
hostile  armies  remained  in  sight  of  each  other, 
with  scarcely  any  exhibition  of  the  enmity 
subsisting  between  their  iv-peetive  leaders. 

:5us  was  finally  drawn  from  his  adva' 
oils  position,  and  ( 'onstantine.  sei/.in^  the  oppor- 
tunity, tell  upon  him  with  such  fury  that  thirty- 
two  thousand  of  his  men  were  .-lain,  his  camp 
taken,  and  he  himself  compelled  to  fly  l'»r 
refuse  within  the  walls  of  Byzantium. 

Determined  to  improve  the  advantage  thus 
acquired,  ('onstantine  irave  directions  that  his 
fleet  should  force  the  passage  of  the  Hellespont, 


ROME    ABANDONED.  289 

Success  of  Constantino. 

which  was  under  the  protection  of  the  power- 
ful arniaincnt  of  Licinins.  A  naval  en- 
incut  accordingly  took  place,  which  at  the  end 
of  two  days  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  vessels  of  Licinius,  to- 
gether with  five  thousand  of  his  men.  Artifi- 
cial mounds  of  earth  were  then  constructed 
around  the  walls  of  Byzantium,  and  from  the 
rs  erected  thereupon,  -tones  and  darts  were 
thrown  upon  the  inhabitants. 

Licinius,  escaping  from  the  city,  fled  to 
Chalcedon  in  A>ia.  But  determined  not  to 
surrender  to  his  rival,  he  rai>ed  an  army  of 
sixty  thousand  men,  which  he  conveyed  to 
( 'hrysnp.ilis,  on  the  IJosphonis,  opposite  to  By- 
zantium. Oonstantine,  crossing  over  the  strait 
in  small  .  gave  him  battle,  and  after 

slaughtering  twenty-five  thousand  troops,  forced 
him  to  sue  for  peace.  This  was  granted  on 
condition  that  he  should  resign  all  hi-  preten- 
sions to  the  throne.  Having  accepted  the  ten  1 1 s, 
Licinius  was  permitted  to  take  the  hand  of 
Constantine,  and  was  subsequently  sent  to 
Thessalonica,  where  he  was  soon  after  put  to 
death,  under  pretence  that  he  had  entered  into 
a  conspiracy  with  the  barbarians. 

The  Christian  Church,  which,  previous  to  the 
triumphs  of  Constantine,   had   been   harassed 
26 


KMPIKK    OF    ROMK. 


Arius— The  Council  of  Nice. 


only  by  tin-  peraecotiona  of  paganism,  no  sooner 

found  itself  firmly  established,  than  it  became 
divided  apiin-t  itself.  Arius.  a  presbyter  of 
Alexandria,  and  a  man  of  irreat  learning  and 
eloquence,  oppo-in^  the  doctrine  that  the  S..n 
of  God  was  co-eternal  with  the  Father,  incurred 
the  indignation  of  his  bi-hop.  and  was  excom- 
niunicated  by  a  council  of  the  cler. 
tirinir  int..  Pah-tine,  he  succeeded  by  means 
of  his  extraordinary  talent-  in  making  many 
c<.n verts  to  liis  views,  amoni:  wlmm  was  the 
distin^ui-hiMl  hi  Kiisebius,  bishop  «>f 

Nii-.-media. 

T<>rn   by  intestine  anim<»ity  an«i  ioDS, 

the  Church  "f  Christ  prWODte^  thus  early,  an 
illustration  of  the  evil-  of  ii)t,,h-rance,  as  well  as 
a  .-trikiiiL  .'human  fallibility.  0<m- 

.-tantinr.althoiiLrh  unskilled  in  ivliiri"ii-  matter-, 
i.  with  more  >hrewdm-ss  than  the  c«»!i- 
tendinir  Fathers,  that  a  "  IK-U-I-  <livi(h-d  airain>t 
itself  cannnt   stand."      Convi-nin^.   tip 
euuncil  of  more  than   three    hundred    bishops 
at    Nice,  he    attended    in    peisou,    and   order- 
ing their    mutual  complaints    to   be  j 
to  him,  he  took  the  papers,  and.  in  the  pn - 
of  the  assembled  cleriry.  committed  them  to  the 
ilanu  exam]»le  of  moderation   and   for- 

bearance was,  however,  attended  by  no  good 


EtOME    A  r.  AN  DON  ED.  291 

Constantine  detenninee  to  found  a  new  capital. 

effect.  A  large  majority  of  the  council  a- 
to  excommunicate  Arius  as  a  heretic,  and  lie 
wa-  l»anishe<l  into  Illyricum.  Some  time  after- 
wards, Constantine  insisted  upon  receiving 
Arius  again  into  communion,  and  a  day  was 
lixed  for  tlie  solemnity  ;  but,  before  the  day  ar- 
rived, Arius  died,  according  to  some,  by  poison, 
and  according  to  Othen,  in  answer  to  the  prayers 
of  his  enemies. 

AVhile  Constantine  was  laboring  zealously  in 
behalf  "f  Christianity,   he  did   not    forget  the 
other  interests  of  the  empire.      Intent  upon  e\- 
'ng    his    troops,  and   upon    regulating   the 
affairs  of  the  provinces,  he  had,  since  the  cap- 
ture of  Jti.me.  biv-n  constantly  moving  through 
ditl'erent  parts  of  his  dominions,  making  his  oc- 
'  of  residence,  sonu-times,  Treves, 
and  at  other  time-,  Milan,  Aquileia,  Sirmium, 
-us,  or  Tbessalonica.     Being  now  the  mas- 
•  rld,  and  without  a  rival,   he  re- 
solved to  build  a  capital  for  his  empire  more 
central  than  Rome,  and  in  every  respect  equal 
to  that  famous  city. 

The  spot  which  he  first  chose  for  this  purpose 
is  said  to  have  been  Chalcedon,  in  Asia  Minor ; 
but,  in  laying  out  the  ground  plan,  we  are 
informed  that  an  eagle  caught  up  the  line,  and 
flew  with  it  to  Byzantium,  the  city  which  he 


!K. 


Omens  —  Uuililinir  of  Constantinople. 


had  he-ieged  during  the  COlltest  with  Licinius. 
In  another  account  of  the  founding  of  the  new 
capital,  it  is  related  that  one  night,  while 

•antine  was  sleeping  within  the  walls    of 
iJy/antium,    the    tutelar  genius    of  the  city.   a 

rahle  matron  howed  d«iwn  with  years  and 
infirmities,  appeared   to  him   in  a  vision,  and 

Hiddddy    transformed     into    a    : 
maid,  whom  he  adorned  with  all   the  emhlems 
of  imperial  givatii'-  —  .      Interpreting  this  a-  an 
indication  from  Heaven;  ntium  should 

he  tin-  capital  of  his  empire.  ;  1   that  he 

immediately  hegan  the  work  of  enlarging  a'nd 
adorning  it. 

The  city  in  '  |  itinople  in  honor 

of  th-  T,  the  griiins  ami  lahor  of  v. 

Mihjeets,  throtigliout  all  the  empire,  wen-  called 

into  re.jui-ition  in  order  to  make1  it  the  metrop- 

\orld.      An    incredihle  amount  of 

money  wa-  expended  in  rearing  it-    pro,ii^inns 

;     and    the    cjuarne-    and    forestfl    of   the 

neighboring  region  were  stripped  to  furnish  ma- 

terials for  its  palace.-  and   temples.     The  cities 

.recce    and    Asia    were    rohhed    of    their 
choice-!  monuments,  the  .-tatucs  of  their   [ 
the  trophies  of  their  heroefl  and  the  fine-t  pro 
ductioiis  of  their  artists,  in  order  to  add  splen- 
dor to  t.  [e   of  the   future  rulers  of  the 


ROM  K    A  BANDON  !•:  i>. 

Tlio  rapidity  of  the  work. 

empire.     Schools  of  learning,    churches,    pub- 
lic halls,  theatres,  circuses,   baths,  and  p 
for    every  species  of  amusement  were  66 
lished. 

Tin-  work  of  building  was  can  with 

extraordinary  rapidity  ;  and  the  walls,  porticoes, 
and    principal    edilic  completed   in   a 

very  linMied.  the 

I  in  the  :  .-inn  manner; 

and    afterwards,  on   the    annual    return  «>f   its 
birthday,    the    image   of    Constantine.    p! 
upon  a  car.  and   accompanied   by 

ihroiigh  the  Hippodrome, 

%where  e\vry  li«Mi..r  was   paid  to  tlie  t'oimder  of 
th<-  5 

not  entirely  stripped 

lants   in   order  to  people  this  new 

;iing  wa<,   h-  .done. 

by     Coii-tantine     to    encourage    the     removal 
thither  of  the  noble  and  wealthy  families  of  the 
empire.      !!••    •  JV:red  to  his  favorite-  the  mag- 
nificent  ]>alaees  which  he  had  built  in   » 
quarter  of  the  city;  and,  gradually,  the  opuK-nt 
senators  of  Ronie.  and  of  the  eastern  prov: 
adopted   the   new  residence   of  the    emperor. 
The  advantages   to   be   derived  from  an  abode 
at  the  seat  of  government  brought  people,  at 
length,  in  crowds ;  and  finally  it  became  neces- 


294:  EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 

Death  of  Constants  ne. 

sary  to  extend  the  limits  of  the  city,  in  order  to 
accommodate  its  increasing  population.  Con- 
stantinople, in  short,  concentrated  the  wealth 
and  nobility  of  the  emphv,  and  Rome,  the  an- 
cient mistress  of  the  world,  sank  from  her  >u- 
premacy. 

The  Goths  finding  that  the  old  capital  had 
abandoned,  fell  upon  it  with  redoubled 
fury;  and  although  Constantino  was  still  able 
t<>  puni>h  their  incursion-,  it  wa-  very  evident 
that  the  day  was  iu»t  di.-tant when,  not  Rome, 
alone,  bir  would  be  their  prey. 

Decay    seemed    to    be    written    upon    e 
tliinir;   i-veii    the   em:  thoiiLrh   eoiiirratu- 

l.y  amba^adors  i'r..m  Kthi«»piu  a: 
upon  the  peace    and    ;  ' y  of  his  irovern- 

meiit.  wa>  tirra<lually  I  I  <rf  tho>e 

an.imd  him.     The   cl«»e  of  his  life  wa>  sullied 

(rf  eru.'lty  ;   and.  after  a 

of  thirtv  :  vain  old  man,  whose 

chief  cmplm  U  to  ad-.ni    his   pers.ni  in 

c..-tlv   robes  of  >il"k.  and  to  Btiuly  all  the  arts 

•;ed  to  in  urder  to  conceal  the  ravni: 
time. 


PART  III. 


QUKSTIONS. 

I.— THE  BE<;i.\MN<;  OF  TliK  KMI'IKK. 

Pa'je  15.  What  happened  upon  the  death  of  t'a-sar  ?  Who 
usurped  the  govern  UK  nt  .*  Wh.v  .railed'  What 

!;ice  among  the  triuin 

!>;.  Wh-it  is  >aid  Antony?  What  war  was 

brought  about  by  Ant.-uy  '  What  is  said  of  the  bar 

17.  .''ction  with  the  d«-ath 
of  Antony  .'     W .                                       ith  upon  t'i 

18.  Wliat  plan  was  laid  by  Octaviin  '      How  di  I 
determine   to  dff«  at    it  '      l;--l;it<-    th--   dlGU 

l'.«.    What  wastluM-omlitionof  i  What 

-  d(iiniiii«»n>?     What  had  it  d«>u,,>  lor  art? 
What  was  th-  i-xt.-nt  and  p«.pulation  ••' 

•K\.   Wha-  .  etc.?    Of  its   i 

AVhat  i-hanffe  tiMik  place  in  the  conduct  ol  ' 

•Jl.   How  did   he  show  his  modi-ration  .'     Wh.v 
it  produce?     What  title  WM  i   up"ii  him,  ami  how 

was  he  otherwise  honored?     How  did  these  honur> 
him  ? 

Hi*.  In  what  way  did  he  clieck  immorality  ?  How  did  he 
become  a  favorite  among  the  people?  What  anecdote  is 
related  of  him  .' 

\V hat  is  said  of  his  treatment  of  Cinna  ?    What  of  his 
military  skill  ? 

24.  At  what  did  he  aim  in  his  wars?     Which  was  tho 


1-1  M  i-  1  i.  ii  OM  K. 


•     Which  the  must  fatal  .' 
lonjr  diil  hi- 

\Vliat    ivmarkalilf   rv«-nt    t  fourteen 

his  death  .'     In   what   year  of  the  city  did  thi- 
(M-riir  '      W  Jrs  of  Augi. 

H.i-.v  did  i  ily  .' 

\Vhoin  did 

What  is  : 
•li  .' 

•J7.   What  :    his  will.'     H<>\v   was  h.-  h..i. 

Wliat  is  said  i,f  his  -"\  .•rniuriit  .'     When  did  Til'i-rin- 

iiil  <>f  him 

.it  lir.-t 

Whom  ilid 

niani.  -MX  d->  '      I! 

wiid  i-: 

Sd  '    What  \va>  i 
uiaii! 

to  him,  and   how  did  ;    1'i-o  finally  si;. 

\\liat    mosa^»>  did   (• 

1  l.-w  w;is    t 
Wlia; 

H"w  ;;dof  the  burial  uf 

.uxnieus? 


QUXSTIOX 


What  was  the  conduct  of  'I  What  the  md  ..f 

.  'lid  Tiherius  take  as  a  o'lK  .. 
1  f  .' 

what   ,li.l 
What  diiii.   .  '     What  , 

il..w  did  li.-  propose  to  ruin  the  ehiMivu  of  (Ji-rmani- 

>iid  lie 
go?     Htiw  did  he  omilurt  him- 

38.  What  was  the  .  II.  .w  did  1, 

against  the  chill;  them.' 

!low  .lid  Tii-Tius  i»nui>h  him.'     Wh;.-  M  tlu- 

>ple  ?    How  wa> 

40.  How  it  became  • 

family  '     \\ 

•iiirini,'   this 
'      Was  he,  him 
•11.    Wh.r 

Whom  tli-1  ;is  his  successor?     H»\v  .11.  1  h-- 

his  pro;..  :. 

!_'  pen«d  while  he  was  r< 

Senate  ?     How  did  Caligula  m»w  act  .'     What  cause  oi 
arose  ?    How  was  Caligula  I 

What 

What  was  | 

IL—  CALIGULA  AND  CLATOII 

What 

'     nfth.-i  .....  I1''--     <>i"  th.-  s..l.li 
48.  Of  the  n-L'M  of  Caligula.'     How  was  ]i.-  received  at 

'      How  far  (lid  the  j  '     What  was  hi 

duct  at  I:: 

40.  What  corrections  did  he  make  ?     How  did  he  punish 


298  EMPIBE  OF   ROME. 

Pilate  ?     What  other  evils  did  he  correct  ?    In  what  way  ' 
was  he  honored  ?     How  long  did  this  reign  of  virtue  con- 
tinue ? 

60.  '\  o  what  did  it  give  way  ?     ]  h>w  has  he  been  excused  .' 
What  was  his  first  act  of  cruelty  ?     What  others  are  related  ? 
.".  1 .    How  did  he  exhihit  his  vanity  ?     What  is  said  of  the 
temple  erected  in  himself.'     How  did  he  maintain  his  pre- 
tensions to  divinity  '.' 

iid  of  his  prodigality?  Of  his  table  and 
baths.'  Of  hit  & YOlite  horte  ?  Of  other  follies  ?  Of  the 
bridi:'1  <>f  1'uteoli  ? 

To  what  did  In-  resort  when  his  fortune  was  expended7 
OMi  did  h-  adi.pt   to  Jill  1.'.  How 

the  people  affected  i>y  his  eondiu-t  '    How 

id  of  his  expedition  against  the  Germans 
and  r.rit..; 

ii-.w  was  he  recelred  by  ih-  Be&atef    Wi, 

Wli..  eonspired  with  him  airainvt  ( 'ali^ula  .' 
tlie  plan   of  the  e.>n>pirators  ?      What    was 
ess  '      How  lonu'  did  Caliirula  i- 
68.  What  became  of  his  family  ?     «  - 
bis  name  '     What  did  the  Senate  nn  : 

1  eoneerninu'  the  disc.. very  of('laii<li  I 

H..W  was  he  made  emperor  '     What  I  when 

ftt!     What  is  said  of  him  ?     How  did  he  be- 
^in  liis  rei-ii  ' 

•  ',(».    What  puHie  wnrks'did  he  undertake;1     How  did  he 
treat  the  provinces  .'     Wliat  foreign  con«[iie.>ts  did  he  under- 

(',].    With  what  success  ?      Ho\\  I  OQ  his  te- 

turn  .'     What    happened,    in    the    mean    time,    in    Britain  .' 
What  is  said  of  the  Silui, 

llelate  \\hat  is  ^iiil  of  the  war  with  Caractatus.     What 
beram 

i;:*.    How  was  he   regarded   in   Rome?     How   treated   l>y 


Q  r  i:  s  T  i  o  N  s . 

riiuulius  ?     What  was  the  result  of  the  victory  of  Ostorius  ? 

What  followed  .'     How  did  the  emperor  now  behave  ?     To 

wlioni  did  lie  leave  his  affairs  ? 

i   hy   his  advisers  ?     What 

!••  result  ?     H"\v  was  Claudius  aif.'ct.-d  l.y  tin-  I 
::illu<  ?     What  followed  the  desertion  of  Camillas  by 

•ops? 

itc  the  story  «.f  Cecina  Petus. 

What  rruelti. •>  •  'in  the  terrors  of  Claudius  ? 

What  i-;  related  of  his  unconcern  f 

;rred    between    Claudius   and    Mt-ssalina  ? 
Mi'ssalina  ?     What  pul-lic  d« clarati<.n 
did  Claudius  makr  '      II«'\v  did  lie  krcp  his  : 

•  hr  first  uink-rta;  .  ij.pina?   In  what 

maun.T  did  sh«-  MOOeed  '      H-«w  .lid  -lu-  tn-at  r.ritaui.! 

What  ol»tarl«-  \vii-i  in  thr  way  of  her  ainl.ition  .'  In 
what  '  What  was  now  the  condition 

of  Claudia 

still  more  ami 
What  did  she  ivM'hv  t<.  do  '     How  did  she  effect  her  pur- 

III.— THE  LAST  OF  THE  (LESAKS. 

Page  7">.    Wh;  condition  of  the  empire  when 

-. .  nd.  d  tin-  throne?  What  was  the  population  of 
th-'  eity  '  What  is  related  of  Nero's  mother? 

I'.y  what  in  Nero  made  emperor?     How  did 

he,  at  tii>t.  treat  Airrippina  .'    What  advantage  d'nl  she  take 
of  her  po\\ 

77.   Who  opposed  her?    And  with  what  success?     What 

I  of  the  first  fi\  How  was 

Atcrippina  alVected  ?    What  did  sin-  determine  to  do?    Whal 
wa>  the  result  of  Nero's  opposition  t" 

\Vhat  threats  di<l  slie  make7  How  was  he  atleeted 
hy  them  ?  In  what  way  did  he  defeat  Ai^rippina  ?  To  what 
did  she  then  resort'  How  was  she  attain  thwarted  ? 


EMPIRE   OF  ROME. 


71'.  What  change  now  took  place  in  Xero  ?     What  was 

his  conduct,  and  how  was  it  regarded  .' 

80.  How  did  lie  treat  his  wife  Oetavia?     Whom  did  he 
then   many.'     What  was   tin;  conduct   of  A.srippina?     To 
what  was  lie   in>ti^atcd   ],y  I'oppe.-i  .'     How  did  ho  torment 
his  mother  :'      What  attempts  did  he.  make  to  destroy  her  .' 

81.  How  was  his   plan    regarded  hy  Seneca  and  Imrrhus  ? 
How  was  his  horrilih;  purpose  linally  accoin]ilished  .'     llelate 
the  circunistanees  of  Airrippina's  death. 

82.  What    took    plac,-    in    the   Senate?     What  is   said  of 

love,   of  in 

83.  Of  his  fondness  for  chariot-driving  ?     Of  his  musical 
performances  .'     How  was  he  received  hy  tin:  people  ? 

84.  llelate  what  is  said  of  his  li<>t  exhibition  after  leaving 

What  is  said  of  his  journey  through  <Ji< 
>*•>.    How  wa0  he  IVOeiYed  *i   Viples.'      Iirserihe  his  return 
to  Rome.      When    thetC   aniu-emeiits   failed  to  satisfy,  what 
did  he  next 

86.  '  ts  of  cruelty  was  he  now  guilty?     What 
•it  i>  -i\eii  of  his  l.iirninu-  the  . 

87.  Whom  did   he  iOCQM  of  this  enormity?     What  was 
the    result    of   this    hase    accusation?     What   distinguished 
:ipo>ti.  i  d.-ath  at  this  t'; 

88.  In  what  way  did  Nei  tahlish  his  inno- 

of  the  rebuilding  of  Rome  !    Desciibe 

his  new  pa!.  D  whom  had  Nero  ch!  -.  d  his 

cruelty  '. 

89.  What  followed  ry  of  a  conspiracy  B 

him  ?  What  distinguished  men  fell  victims  to  his  wrath  ? 
What  is  related  of  Seneca  in  connection  with  this  con- 
spiracy .'  How  did  Nero  ti. 

i:elate  the  curcumstances  attending  thedeat  i. 
What  were  the  further  consequences  of  this  conspiracy  .' 

1»1.  What  happened  in  the  provinces  of  the  empire? 
What  occurred  amon.ic  the  P.ritons  ?  What  took  place 
unions  the  .K'\^ 


QUESTIONS.  301 

92.  What  is  further  related  of  Nero's  enormities  ?    How 
were  they  finally  regarded?    Who  first  declared  against 
him? 

93.  Who  was  proclaimed  emperor  ?    Where  was  Nero, 
and  how  was  he  affected  by  the  revolt  ?    What  afflicted  him 
most  in  the  manifestoes  of  Vindex  ?    What  did  he  do  in 
order  to  have  revenge  ?    On  returning  to  Rome,  what  was 
his  course  ? 

94.  How  did  he  behave  in  the  Senate?    What  intelli- 
gence reached  Rome  soon  after  ?    How  was  Nero  affected 
by  it  ?    What  piece  of  extravagance  did  he  contemplate  ? 

95.  How  did  he  prepare  to  meet  his  enemies  ?    What 
other  intelligence  arrived  in  the  midst  of  these  prepara- 
tions ?    In  what  condition  did  Nero  find  himself  ? 

96.  How  did  he  seek  to  destroy  himself  ?    What  is  related 
of  his  flight  ?    What  was  his  conduct  at  the  house  of  Phaon  ? 
What  was  Phaon' s  advice  to  him  ? 

97.  What  was  the  action  of  the  Senate  ?    What  effect  had 
itXipon  Nero  ?    How  did  he  behave  ?    In  what  way  was  his 
death  accomplished  ? 

98.  At  what  age  did  he  die  ?    How  was  the  news  of  his 
death  received  at  Rome  ? 

IV.— TRANSIENT  RULERS. 

Page  101.  What  followed  the  reign  of  Nero  ?  What  was 
the  character  of  Galba  ?  How  was  he  affected  by  his  nomi- 
nation to  the  throne  ? 

102.  What  occurred  upon  his  approaching  the  city  ?  What 
is  said  of  his  reforms  ? 

103.  What  name  did  he  acquire  ;  and  what  was  said  of 
him  ?    What  circumstance  seemed  to  prove  his  love  of 
money  ?    What  may  be  said  in  his  defence  ? 

104.  What  jealousies  sprang  up  in  the  armies?    What 
was  done  by  the  armies  in  Germany  ?    How  did  he  hope  to 
strengthen  his  position  ?     What  is  here  said  of  Otho  ? 

105.  Whom  did  Galba  adopt  as  his  successor?    How  did 


302  EMPIRE  OF   KOME. 

Otho  scheme  for  the  throne  ;  and  with  what  success  ?  What 
followed  the  news  of  this  revolt,  and  the  report  of  Otho's 
death  ? 

106.  Relate  the  circumstances  attending  the  death  of 
Galba.     At  what  age  did  he  die  ;   and  how  long  did  he 

How  was  Otho  treated  by  the  Senate  ?    What  effect 
had  this  treatment  ? 

107.  What  were  some  of  his  first  acts?    What  is  related 
of  Yitcllius  and  the  legions  of  Germany  ? 

108.  What  effect  had  the  news  of  this  revolt  ?     How  did 
Otho  feel  in  regard  to  it  ?     What  offer  did  he  make  to  his 
rival  ?     What  course  did  he  then  pursue  ? 

109.  Describe  the  conlli<  •  D  the  armies  of  Otho 
and  Yitellius.     What  inrHent  is  here  rela'. 

110.  What  effect  did  it  produce  upon  Otho  ?     What  did 

rs  ? 

111.  (live  an  account  of  his  death.     How  was  the  news 
of  it  reeej\-ed  by  his  soldi 

11:2.  Wli-  it.-llius  all  this  time?  What  action 

was  taken  by  the.  Senate  ?  What  were  the  words  of  Yitcllius 
cm  passing  the  lield  win-re  his  army  had  recently  triumphed  ? 
How  did  1. 

11:;.  To  whom  did  h<>  intru-t  affairs?  To  what  did  he 
abandon  him.-elf  '  What  is  said  of  his  meals,  and  mode  of 
eating  .'  What  was  the  cost  of  his  table  for  four  months  ? 

111.  Wh.>  id  his  prodigality?  How  did  he  re- 

plenish hi-  How  did  he  treat  those  who  loaned 

him  money  ?  What  in>tances  are  mentioned  of  his  gross 
widkedi 

11").  What  n'f.rt  had  his  conduct?  How  did  he  become 
the  astrologers?  How,  and  why,  did 
iher's  death  ?  What  was  the  result  of  his 
mad  behavior  ? 

110.  What  is  said  of  Yespasian ?  How  was  he  made  em- 
peror ?  What  did  he  resolve  to  do  on  accepting  the  empire  ? 

117.  What  was  the  result  of  his  contest  with  Yitellius? 


QUESTIONS.  303 

How  did  Vitellius  receive  the  news  of  his  own  defeat? 
What  did  he  conclude  to  do  ? 

118.  By  whom  was  Rome  attacked?    What  festival  was 
in  progress  during  the  attack  ?     What  was  the  conduct  of 
Vitellius5 

119.  By  whom  was  he  taken  ?    How  was  he  treated  by 
the  soldiers  .'     How  by  the  people  ?     In  what  manner  was 
he  put  to  death  ?     At  what  age  did  he  die,  and  what  the 
length  of  his  reign  ? 

V.— VESPASIAN  AM)  HIS  SONS. 

Page  123.  Who  succeeded  Vitellius  in  the  empire  ?  Where 
was  he  when  chosen  emperor  ?  When  was  he  born  ?  When 
did  he  first  attract  n«-!' 

1-Jt.  What  offices  did  he  receive  under  Nero?  What 
scheme  was  he  obliged  to  abandon,  by  going  to  Rome  ?  To 
whom  did  he  intrust  it  ?  How  was  he  received  at  Rome? 

111"..  What  is  said  of  Titus?  What  was  the  condition  of 
the  Jews  \\hrn  he  attacked  them?  What  then  became  of 
their  1  With  what  success  did  they  attack  the 

Roma: 

111.'..  What  did  Titus  now  do  ?  How  did  he  treat  the  in- 
habitants ?  How  did  they  receive  his  offers  ?  What  course 
did  lie  now  pursue  ? 

1  27.  Who  was  Josephus  ?  On  what  mission  was  he  sent  ? 
With  what  result  ?  What  now  took  place  ?  How  did  Titus 
then  proct 

128.  H«»w  was  Ji-nisal.-m  finally  taken? 

129.  How  were  the  Jews  affected  by  the  destruction  of 
the  temple  ?    What  became  of  the  city  ?    How  long  had  the 
siege  continued  ?    How  many  perished  with  it  ?    How  was 
Titus  received  at  Rome  ? 

130.  To  what  did  he  and  his  father  apply  themselves  ? 
What  public  improvements  did  they  make  ?     How  did  Ves- 
pasian distinguish  himself  ?    What  is  said  of  his  patronage 
of  learning  ? 


304  EMPIRE  OF  KOME. 

131.  What  was  the  condition  of  the  public  treasury  when 
Vespasian  began  his  reign  ?  What  is  said  of  the  devotion 
of  Vespasian  to  the  wants  of  the  people  ?  Give  an  account 
of  his  death.  Who  succeeded  him  upon  the  throne  ? 

l:;j.  What  had  been  the  character  of  Titus?  What  ap- 
pellation did  he  acquire  ?  To  what  did  he  apply  himself? 

133.  What  is  related  of  his  devotion  to  the  good  of  others  ? 
What  dreadful  events  occurred  during  his  reign  ? 

134.  What  was  the  effect  of  his  example?    By  what  was 
his  death  probably  occasioned  ?    What  did  he  declare  when 
about  to  die  ? 

How  did  the  people  regard  Domitian  ?  How  did  he 
manage  to  deceive  them  ?  In  what  did  he  find  his  chief 
pleasure  ?  How  did  lie  amuse  himself  in  private  ? 

the  first  object  of  his  malevolence  ?  What 
is  said  of  his  expedition  against  the  Catti?  How  did  he 
treat  Agricola  ? 

138.  Give  an  account  of  his  expedition  against  the  Sar- 
matians.     What  is  said  of  his  love  of  applause  ? 

139.  What  ii^tunos  of  his  cruelty  are  mentioned  ?    How 
was  his  cruelty  augmented  ?    In  what  way  did  he  punish 
those  accused  of  treason  ? 

140.  What  account  is  given  of  his  attempts  to  frighten 
the  Senate  ? 

141.  In  what  way  did  he  guard  himself  against  surprise? 
How  v.  (-cautions  rendered  unavailing  ?    Relate  the 

i'-h  led  to  a  conspiracy  against  him. 
ll'J.  How  was  his  death  accomplish 

VI.— KXTKNMoX  OF  TIIK  KM  TIRE. 

Page  147.  How  was  the  Senate  affected  by  the  death  of 
Domitian  ?  Who  was  declared  emperor  ?  How  did  the 
choice  prove  fortunate  ? 

148.  To  what  was  Nerva  indebted  for  his  elevation  ?  To 
what  did  he  devote  his  short  reign?  What  is  related  of  the 
Praetorian  bands  ? 


QUESTIONS.  305 

14',i.  How  did  their  conduct  affect  Xerva  ?  Whom  did  he 
choose  a>  an  associate  in  the  government  ?  What  is  said  of 
Nerva's  death  ?  What  is  said  of  Trajan  and  his  family  ? 

150.  What  did  he  do  when  a  lad  ?  What  was  the  effect 
of  his  early  training  ?  How  did  he  behave  when  made  em- 
peror ?  What  is  said  of  his  journey  to  Rome  ? 

}')!.  What  celebrated  philosopher  now  lived  in  Rome? 
Give  the  substance  of  Plutarch's  letter  to  Trajan. 

1  "••_'.   I  low  did  was  Trajan  when  he  ascended  the  throne? 
the  principal  reforms  which  he  undertook. 
What   did   he   say   concerning  law-makers'     What 
.-•  only  thing  exceptionable  in  hi  .'     (Jive  an 

K.I.   With  what  success  did  he  attack  them'     How  did 
Trajan  display  his  humanity  .'     What  further  dimculti- 
he  with  th. 

What  prodigious  structure  did  he  erect  ?     Of  what 
service  was  it  '     What  was  the  result  of  Trajan's  conquests  ? 
How  was  he  instrumental  in  persecuting  the  Chris- 
tians ?     W  i  . . .  mg  the  numbers  put  to  death  ?    How 
were  t  i  How  was  the  peace  of 

.;-iiv  disturbed  ? 

\~>7.  Give  an  account  of  Trajan's  victories. 
158.  Aft.  :  what  did  he  do  ?    What  is  said 

of  his  drath  ?     H«.\\-  Was  the  news  of  it  received  at  Rome  ? 
Who 

What  was  Hadrian's  conduct  on  reaching  Rome? 
What  honors  were  paid  to  Trajan?  What  was  Hadrian's 
character  ?  How  was  he  regarded  by  Trajan  ? 

160.  How  was  he  made  the  successor  of  Trajan  ?    How- 
was  his  nomination  received  ?    In  what  manner  did  he  ren- 
der himself  popular  ? 

161.  Relate  what  is  said  of  his  moderation  and  clemency. 
In  what  respect  did  he  differ  from  his  predecessor  ?    How 
did  he  diminish  the  extent  of  the  empire  ? 

162.  What  was  his  plan  to  get  rid  of  his  enemies  ?    What 


306  EMPIRE   OF   ROME. 

occasioned  a  conspiracy  against  him  ?     How  did  this  con- 
spiracy terminate  ? 

163.  How  did  he  perform  his  famous  journey  ?    Why  was 
it  undertaken  ?     What  is  said  of  his  visit  to  Gaul  and  Ger- 
many ?     Of  his  visit  to  Britain  ? 

164.  Of  hi  -pain  ?    Of  his  visit  to  Athens  ? 

165.  Of  his  visit  to  Sicily  and  Africa?    Of  his  second 
journey  to  Greece  ?    What  loss  did  he  suffer  during  this 
journey?     What   is  related  concerning  his  grief  for  Aii- 
tinous  ? 

16G.  What  did  he  do  for  the  Jews  ?  How  did  they  repay 
his  kindness.'  How  did  lie  punish  them?  How  long  did 
well  cootie 

107.  How  was  he  reo-iv«-d  at  ll<»m«-  ?  What  reforms  did 
he  make?  Of  what  R  tieularly  fond?  Of  whom 

envious'  What  instamvs  of  his  injuM  '.  iird  .' 

168.  Whom  did  he  adopt  as  his  heir,  and  on  what  condi- 
tions ?  What  is  M  sufferings  and  <1 

VII.— Till-    ANTOMMX 
17:1.    ll"\\  did  Antoninus  UM-  i.  What  sur- 

name was  conferred  upon  him  :'    What  is  said  of  his  i 
At  what  ai;«-  did  lie  lie-in  to  reign? 

171.   Wh  .  iiis  iit>t  aets  ?     HOW  were  they 

Ib.w  did  h.-  tn-at  the  cliri>tian> .'     \\'hat  did  he 
think 

How  did  h.'  d.-al   with  the  barharians  ?     What  was 
his  treatment  <  f  l.-.u  :  What  was  particularly  ad- 

mirable in  Antoninus  ? 

17''..    What  did  IK-  do  when  near  his  end  .'     How  did  Mar- 
irelius  aet  when  he  eame  in  po>scssi<>n  of  the  empire? 
What  hono;  i  to  the  memory  oi'Antoi,:. 

177.  How  li>nur  did  the  two  emperors  rekrn  conjointly? 
What  happened  soon  after  their  rei^n  he^an  .'    What  agree- 
ment was  made  between  the  two  emperors? 

178.  What  was  the  conduct  of  Verus  during  this  cam- 


Cc)  I    KSTIONS.  307 

.'    How  did  his  generals  proceed?    What  was  their 
success  ? 

17'.'.  Of  what  mean  act  was  Verus  now  guilty  ?     How  did 
Aurclius  treat  him  ?    What  is  said  of  the  return  of  Ye 

180.  What  calamities  befel  Rome  ?    To  whom  were  these 
calamities   attributed  ?     What  measures  were  adopted  by 
Aureli 

181.  What  success  had  he  against  the  harbarians  ?    What 
account  is  ^iveii  ui  the  di-ath  of  Verus  ?    What  was  the  con- 
duet  of  Aurelius  on  t:  n  ? 

''•arharians  finally  subdued  ?     I  low  did 

Aurelius  now  employ  himself .'     How  were  his  occupations 
intern;; 

How  did  Aurelius  recruit  his  army  and  replenish  his 
iv  .'     What  became  of  his  enemies  ? 

account  of  the  miraculous  deliverance  of 
.;ian  army. 

What  benefits   resulted  from  it  to  the  Christians.' 
Relate  wl.  iraey  of  Avidius  (  a>i 

•    did   Aurelius    receive   the    news   of  this   con- 
spiracy ?     What  did  h"  ird  t. >  Avidius  ? 

1S7.   1I"\\- \\;i  How  were  those 

in  it  treated  .' 

188.  What  n-ply  did  Aurelius  make  to  those  who  blamed 
him  for  hi-  .'    What  account  is  given  of  the  jour- 

.  Aurelius  intu  the  East  ?    How  was  he  received  on  his 
return? 

189.  How  did  he  enter  Rome  ?    Whom  did  he  name  as  hi* 
successor  ?    How  did  he  then  employ  his  time  .'    What  work 
did  he  write  ? 

190.  What  people  now  invaded  the  empire?    What  is 
said  of  his  preparations  to  attack  them  ?     What  was  his 
success  ?     What  occurred  during   the  third   year  of  this 
war  ? 

191.  What  was  the  chief  cause  of  uneasiness  to  him  when 


308  EMPIKE   OF   ROME. 

about  to  die  ?     What  advice  did  he  leave  to  be  given  to  his 
Bon  ?    At  what  age  did  he  die  ?     How  long  had  he  reigned  ? 

VIIL— THE  PRAETORIAN  GUARDS. 

Page  197.  How  old  was  Commodus  when  he  began  to 
reign  ?  How  did  he,  at  first,  behave  ?  How  did  he  prose- 
cute the  war  witli  the  barbarians?  To  what  influence  did 
he,  by  ••••nine  subject  ? 

198.  What  induced  him  to  abandon  the  campaign  against 
the  barbarian^  .;  What  was  the  condition  of  the  empire  for 
about  three  years  ?  What  attempt  was  made  upon  the  life 
.mnodus  .' 

I!-'.).  What  was  the  result  <.f  this  attempt  ?  Who  suffered 
innocently  in  consequence  of  this  conspiracy  ?  What  is  re- 
lated «if  iVivm. 

200.  What  beeame  of  him  ?     What  resulted  from  the  sus- 
picion '     What  was  the  consequence  of  his 
buspicions  ?     Wh"  Mcr  ? 

201.  How  did  lie  use  his  authority  .'     How  did  he  admin- 

•     With   whom   did   (Meander  share  his  ill- 
ilth?      What  caused    th.-    people    to   rise   a 
him  ? 

What  was  Ins  fate  ?    How  was  Commodus  aiYected  by 
the  loss  of  his  favorite  '      V,  ,ied  of  his  brutality  .' 

What   is  said  0<  his  tMtM  '      What   of  his  pe: 
aiire>  iii  i;  What  (^f  him  as  a  gladiator? 

-uivd  his  •  -  the  conse- 

::it  of  the   conspiracy  tliat  foil 
Who  was  sel<  ei. 
of  IVrtina 

20C.  How  was  the  offer  of  the  empire  made  to  him  ? 

207.  What  was  dune  by  the  Senate  ?  How  was  the  body 
of  Commodus  to  be  treated  ?  What  was  the  conduct  of 
Pertinax  ?  What  custom  did  he  disallow  in  his  family  ? 
What  changes  took  place  in  the  palace  ? 


QUESTION-.  309 

208.  How  old  was  he  when  he  be^an  to  reign  .'  What 
evils  and  abuses  did  lie  correct  ?  How  was  he  regarded  ' 

What  is  Miid  of  the  Roman  soldi. TV  .'  What  at- 
t'-mpt  was  made  by  tin-  I'ra-torian  guards  .'  II. .w  was  their 
conspiracy  Duelled?  What  did  they,  soon  after,  under- 

•JU>.    What  was  the  conduct  of  IVrtinax  ?     What  was  his 
F>y    whom    were    the    l'ra.-t<>rian    bands    instituted? 
What  account  is  given  of  them  .' 

211.  How    \\.K-    they    located?     How   did    they   regard 
themselves  ?     What  is  said  of  their  demands  .' 

212.  What  is  relate<l  of  Sulpieianus  ?     H<»\v  \\as  the  oflcr 
.  ipieianus  regar.  !• 

21:;.   What  proclamation  was  made  by  one  of  the  hand  ? 
What  took  place,  as  the  news  of  it  spread  .'     Who  were  the 
chief  bidders  for  the  empire  .'     What  were  their  rev 
bids  ;   and  who  v  -t'ul  ? 

ill  1.  What  is  related  of  I>idius  in  presence  of  the  Senate  ? 
What  wore  now  the  feelings  of  the  Senate  towards  the  Prae- 
torian bands  ?  How  did  they  treat  Didius  ? 

21">.  What  is  said  of  Niger  and  Severus  ?  What  was  the 
position  of  Hidius?  What  course  did  he  pursue?  What 
offer  did  he  make  to  Severus  ? 

Hit).  Wliat  it-solution  was  taken  by  the  Senate?  How 
was  Didius  disposed  of?  What  then  occurred  between  the 
Senate  and 

'J17.  AVhat  commands  did  Severus  send  to  the  Pnetorian 
bands  '  How  did  he  then  treat  them  ?  What  did  Severus 
do,  on  entering  the  city? 

U18.  Of  whose  power  did  Severus  feel  afraid,  and  of  whom 
was  he  jealous  ?  How  did  he  get  rid  of  these  persons  ? 

219.  What  was,  subsequently,  the  fate  of  Albinus  ?   What 
was  his  success  against  the  Parthians  ?     What  expedition 
did  he  now  resolve  to  make  ?     Whom  did  he  appoint  his 
joint  successors  in  the  empire  ? 

220.  What  is  said  of  this  expedition  to  Britain  ?    What 


310  EMPIKE   OF   ROME. 

was  the  effect  of  his  labors  ?     "What  is  related  of  his  death  ? 
What  was  the  character  of  his  successors  ? 

221.  What  was  the  feeling   subsisting  between  them? 
How  were  their  quarrels  terminated  ?     How  did  Caracalla 
save  his  own  life  ? 

222.  Of  what  further  cruelties  was  he  guilty  ?     In  what 
way  did  he  secure  the  protection  of  the  Praetorian  soldiers  ? 
What  is  related  of  his  journeys  and  cruelties  in  foreign 
countries  ? 

22:).  What  follies  did  he  commit  in  the  different  cities 
through  which  he  passed  ?  Who  sustained  him  in  all  this  ? 
Ik-late  the  circumstances  that  led  to  the  murder  of  Cara- 
calla. 

22o.  What  hopes  were  now  entertained  by  Macrinus  ? 

22G.  By  whom  was  he  elected  emperor  ?  What  was  the 
action  of  the  Senate?  What  reforms  were  undertaken  by 
Macrinus  ?  How  were  they  received  .'  What  wore  the  feel- 
ings of  the  army  towards  him  ? 

"I'll.  What  is  related  concerning  a  young  priest  at  Emesa? 
Whence  did  the  new  emperor  derive  his  name  ? 

228.  How  did  Man-inns  proceed  against  Heliogabalus  ? 
What  course  was  pursued  by  the  Senate?  What  was  the 
character  of  Heliogabalus  ? 

22!».  How  did  he  behave  .'  What  were  the  follies  that 
made  up  his  entire  r< 

230.  How  did  his  grandmother  propose. to  save  him  from 
impending  ruin  .'     What  did  he  thereupon  do?     What  was 
hi.-,  conduct  subsequently  ?. 

231.  What  was  bis  end  ?    Who  was  made  emperor  ?    What 
was  the  character  of  Alexander  ?    What  reforms  did  he  un- 
dertake .' 

-'•\-.  What  did  he  do  for  the  army  ?    How  was  he  regarded 
by  the  Pra>torian  guards  ?    How  did  he  show  his  gratitude  ? 
How  did  they  become  irritated  against  him  ?     Upon 
whom  did  they  visit  their  anger  ?     What  is  said  of  Alexan- 
der's first  military  expedition  ? 


Q  IT  i:  s  T  i  o  N  s .  311 

204.  What  means   did   Maximin   employ    to   overthrow 
Alexander?     Under  what  circumstances  \\ as  .Maximin  pro- 
claimed emperor  ?    What  was  the  conduct  and  fate  of  Alex- 
ander ? 

205.  By  whom  was  Alexander  regretted  ?    How  had  he 
treated  the  Christians  ? 

IX.— DECLINE  OF  THE  EMPIRE. 

Pagelll.  Where  did  Maximin  hold  his  court?  Why? 
Give  some  account  of  Maximin.  Why  did  the  senators  de- 
spise him  ? 

:M±  What  is  said  of  his  wonderful  strength?  How  did 
he  revenge  himself  upon  the  nobles  ?  How  oppress  the  rich  ? 

-4-j.  What  is  said  of  his  military  operations  ?  What  con- 
spiracy was  formed  against  him  ?  Who  was  compelled  to 
assume  the  insignia  of  royalty  / 

214.  Upon  what  condition  did  Gordianus  promise  to  ac- 
cept the  title  of  emperor  ?  How  did  the  Senate  receive  his 
election  ?  For  what  purpose  did  they  send  men  to  the  Free- 
torian  camp  ?  How  were  the  people  aroused  against  Maxi- 
min ? 

245.  What  was  the  fate  of  the  two  Gordians  ?    How  was 
Rome  affected  by  this  event  ?     Whom  did  the  Senate  choose 
in  their  place  ?     Upon  what  did  the  people  insist  ? 

246.  Who  was  associated  with  Maximus  and  Balbinus  ? 
How  did  Maximin  behave  on  hearing  this  news  ?     What 
effect  had  the  opposition  of  the  Senate  upon  him  ?    To  what 
resolution  did  his  outrageous  conduct  bring  his  soldiers  ? 

247.  How  was  his  death  and  that  of  his  son  accomplished  ? 
In  what  manner  did  the  Praetorian  soldiers  assert  their  su- 
premacy ? 

248.  Whom  did  they  proclaim  sole  successor  to  the  throne  ? 
What  was  the  character  of  this  prince  ?     What  the  state  of 
the  empire  ?    What  enemies  invaded  the  empire  ?    How 
were  they  repelled  ?    Who  was  Misithaeus  ?    What  was  his 
fate  ?     Who  was  Philip  ? 


312  K  M P i R E   OF   ROME. 

249.  In  what  manner  did  he  ascend  the  throne  ?     "What 
peace  did  lie  conclude  ?     What  city  did  he  build  ?     What 
year  was  completed  in  his  reign  ?    What  games  were  cele- 
brated ?     Describe  this  festival. 

250.  What  does  the  history  of  this  period  exhibit  ?    De- 
'scribe  the  state  of  the  empire.     What  was  the  fate  of  Gor- 
dian  ?     What  rebellion  broke  out  ?     What  became  of  Mari- 
nus? 

251.  Whom  did  Philip  send  to  Moesia  to  restore  peace  ? 
To  what  did  the  soldiers  compel  Decius  ?     What  choice  did 
they  give  him  ?     How  was  the  death  of  Philip  brought 
about  ?    What  plans  did  Decius  form  ? 

Ll-VJ.  What  persecution  arose  ?  What  invasion  succeeded  ? 
Give  an  account  of  the  army  of  Decius  and  his  death.  Who 
obtained  the  empire  3 

253.  Who  was  associated  with  him  7  What  treaty  did 
Gallus  make  ?  What  four  things  rendered  the  condition  of 
the  empire  deplorable  ?  What  is  said  of  Ilostilianus  ? 

'2~>\.  What  was  done  by  .Kmilianus  ?  Why  was  he  pro- 
claimed emperor  ?  Give  an  account  of  the  conflict  between 
him  and  Gallus.  Who  avt-nu'ed  the  death  of  Gallus  ? 

In  what  mamiiT  was  Valerian  elevated  to  the  throne? 
Who  was  declared   hi-  '     How  old  was  Valerian  ? 

What  is  said  of  his  conduct,  and   how  was  he  regarded? 
Why  coul'i  ve  the  empire  ? 

What  was  done  by  Valerian?     With  what  design? 
How  was  he  .l.'c.-ived  '     How  made  a  captive? 

Give  an  account  of  the  shameful  treatment  of  Vale- 
rian.    What  is  said  of  his  son  Gallienus  ? 

258.  How  many  aspirants  to  supreme  power  arose  ?    De- 
scribe the  end  of  Gallienus.     Who  was  his  successor  ? 

259.  What  is  said  of  the  reign  of  Claudius?    Who  had 
pillaged  Athens  ?     How  many  barbarians  were  overthrown  ? 
Who  was  Zenobia  ? 

260.  What  put  an  end  to  the  enterprises  of  Claudius  ? 
Who  was  recommended  by  Claudius  as  successor  ?    What  is 


QUESTIONS.  313 

said  of  Quinctilius  ?  What  was  done  by  Aurelian  against 
the  enemies  of  the  empire  ?  Against  whom  did  he  turn  his 
arms  ; 

201.  Who  acknowledged  the  supremacy  of  Zenobia  ? 
Win- iv  was  her  residence  ?  What  was  her  ambition  ?  How 
did  Aurelian  proceed  against  her  ? 

1ZG2.  Where  did  the  hostile  armies  meet  ?  Which  was  de- 
feated ?  Where  again  did  they  meet  ?  Where  did  Zenobia 
fly  ?  What  is  said  of  her  capture  ?  Of  what  perfidy  was  she 
guilty  ?  What  was  undertaken  by  Aurelian  '.' 

263.  How  did  he  treat  tin- Christians  and  others?  Give 
an  account  of  his  death.  What  is  an  interregnum  ?  How 
long  did  that  after  the  death  of  Aurelian  continue  ?  How 
was  this  accounted  for  ? 

elected  by  the  Senate  .'     Ho\v  old  was  Ta- 
citus '     How  was  his  elevation  regarded?     What  is  said  of 
•:i  '     H<>\v  long  did  it  continue  ? 

205.  What  now  threatened  the  empire?  Who  was  Pro- 
bus?  How  long  was  his  reign?  Whom  did  he  subdue? 
What  caused  his  death? 

What  is  saiil  of  his  monument  ?  Whom  did  the  sol- 
diery select  as  emperor  ?  Who  were  associated  with  Carus? 
What  is  .said  of  <  'anis  ?  What  of  his  death  ?  What  of  the 
death  of  Xumerian  ? 

Wh<>  \v;is  the  next  emperor?  Who  was  associated 
with  him?  What  were  his  exploits?  What  difficulties 
arose  ? 

268.  Into  how  many  parts  was  the  empire  now  divided  ? 
What  were  the  names  of  the  four  emperors  ?     How  was  the 
empire  harassed  ?     What  is  said  of  the  persecution  of  the 
Christians  ? 

269.  What  act  caused  astonishment  ?     What  was  done  by 
Constantius  and  Galerius  ?     Who  were  they  ?     Where  did 
Constantius  reside  ?    To  whom  did  he  bequeath  the  empire  ? 
What  of  Galerius  ? 

270.  What  filled  the  empire  with  dissensions  ? 


314  EM  !•  i  u  K   o  i-    HUME. 

x.— HOME  ABAXI  »OXKD. 

Page  273.  In  whose  reign  did  the  city  of  Rome  cease  to  be 
the  capital  of  the  empire  ?  How  old  was  Constantine  at  his 
father's  death  ?  Describe  him. 

271.  How  was  the  empire  divided  at  this  time?  What 
provinces  had  ( 'mistantine  '  What  did  Galerius  impose 
upon  Home  '  How  did  the  Senate  show  resentment  ' 

Wh<.  w.i^  elevated  to  the  throne  by  the  Senate? 
What  was  done  by  Maximian  ?  Who  maivhed  with  an  army 
to  Rom.-7  Where  did  h«-  take  refuse?  Wlio  took  him 
prisoner? 

What    is    said    (.(   his    death  ?     What    allian>  , 
form.-d  aJiK.iiLC  tin-  emperor^  ?     Who  was  Licinius  '     Why 

ilerios  marcfei  toward<  Bone!    why  did  h«-  n.it  - 

Whom  did  lie  appoint  to  the  tin 

277.  Wh  •  1   em]»eiors  '     How   many 
einpeiois  were  tlinc  at  this  time  '    What  were  their  names  ? 
In  what  manner  did  Maxeiitius  treat  his  father  ?     Where 
did  Maximi.i                  :'uge  ? 

278.  '!'*)  what  art  did   hi*   lo  :•  prompt  him? 
How  was  it  punMied  ?     W.  What 
divi-i 

tlif  rni.-lty  of  Maxt-ntiiis.  How  was  all 
Italy  treat. -d  by  him?  How  did  he  sp.-nd  his  time.'  Uf 
what  did  I. 

Why  did  he  throw  d  nstantine  ? 

What  did  ( '.in-tantine  tiien  do  '      How  did  M.i.\entiu- 
his  demand  '     How  did  their  armies  < 

1>1.    \\  i.  .  ;';d  C..n<tantiii«-  jairsue  ?     What 

^\d  1,  i  of  th«-  si 

Its  surrender.''  II.. \v  did  Maxeiitius  pass  his  time? 
How  was  he  aroused  '  What  was  done  by  him  ? 

283.  Give  an  account  of  Constantine' s  vision.  What  was 
done  by  Constantino  ?  To  what  plaeo  did  he  march  ? 


QUESTION.-.  315 

284.  Where  did  he  meet  the  armies  of  Maxentius  ?    What 
was  the  result  of  this  battle  ?    What  the  fate  of  Maxentius  ? 

285.  How  did  Constantino  conduct  himself  on  entering 
Rome  ?     How  did  the  Senate  and  people  show  their  joy  ? 
What  is  said  of  the  Praetorian  guards  ? 

What  is  related  of  Maximin  ?  What  emperors  re- 
mained ?  Why.  and  how.  did  they  divide  the  cmpi: 

What  was  the  length  of  the  peace  between  them  ? 
What,  during  this  time,  was  done  by  Constantino  ?  What 

."W  his  ob; 

288.  In  what  manner  did  Licinius  resist  him?  How  did 
he  suco-'-d  '  \\'lieie  did  h«-  take  refuge  ? 

the  naval  .  ;>e  the  flight 

of  Licinius,  liis  surrender,  and  death. 

t  hail  the  Christian  profession  of  Constan- 
tino on  the  Christian  Church  ?     Who  was  Arias  :  and  what 
me  by  him?     H«»w  many  bishops  assembled  at  the 
Council  of  Nice  ?     For  what  purpose  ?     How  did  Constan- 
tine  t  :  o  order  ? 

iI'.Jl.  What  was  the  end  of  Arius  ?  Was  Rome  now  the 
capital  of  the  empire  ?  What  spot  did  Constantino  fix  upoii 
for  it  .' 

How  was  Byzantium  afterward-  What  name 

•  it  '     How  is  it  here  descri 

;.t  of  the  dedication  of  Constantinople. 
How  was  tin-  lu-w  capital  peopl' 

What  people  fell  upon  Rome  ?  What  was  the  effect 
upon  the  empire  of  the  abandonment  of  Rome  ?  What  upon 
the  emperor?  How  was  the  end  of  Constantino's  reign  sul- 
lied ?  What  was  his  last  employment  ? 


THE 


I A  LIBRARY 


